On board: Bajaur tribes announce support for security forces

Elders of Mamond, Khar, Mandal tribes vow to back govt’s peace initiative

KHAR: Elders of Mamond, Khar and Mandal tribes of Bajaur Agency announced their support for the political administration and security forces in a jirga held at Bajaur Scouts Fort near Inayat Kali in the agency on Saturday.

A large number of elders from all three tribes said they would not support terrorists or provide shelter to them, and if any tribesman is found guilty of violating this arrangement, he would be punished according to the tribal tradition of burning down his house and property.

Bajaur Scouts Commandant Colonel Ameer Ali and Assistant Political Agent Fayaz Sherpao also attended the gathering.

Addressing the elders, Colonel Ali said seven suspects have been arrested from various areas after the recent militant attacks in the agency. “Militants are the enemy of development, culture, and prosperity. They want to impose their own agenda which is against tribal traditions,” said Ali.

He added it was the responsibility of locals to keep a watch on their area and hand over people involved in suspicious activities to the administration. Colonel Ali urged the tribesmen to support the government in its initiative to restore peace and refrain from sheltering militants.

While announcing their support to the political administration, elders appealed to the officials to reopen sealed houses of suspected people and give militants the chance to lay down their weapons voluntarily if they wished to.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2015.