Jirga summoned to stop kidnappings

posted in dawn



KOHAT, June 6: The Kohat commissioner has summoned peace jirga to discuss ways for making Hangu-Parachinar highway safe and devising strategy to stop kidnappings in the area.

The jirga would be held in Kohat on Tuesday next after a long break of a month because the government and elders were busy in talks for the release of four school students and five passengers kidnapped from the Kohat-Parachinar highway by the armed rival sects.

Officials said the jirga would take up the issue of safety of people on the highway and stop kidnappings and burning of houses and shops by some elements within the rival sects.

The members of Hangu peace jirga belonging to Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat had warned the parliamentarians of holding them responsible in case military operation was launched in the region.

They criticised the federal government and some parliamentarians suggesting military operation as the only solution to the problem.

A meeting of the members of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat held the other day brushed aside the allegations that anti-state elements and Taliban were active in the area.

They said that the rumours about the operation had badly affected business activities in the area and hundred of families were migrating to other parts of the country.

They regretted that those tribesmen who had been displaced from Orakzai Agency and Kurram agencies between 2007 and 2009 due to sectarian clashes and settled in Hangu had no option but to stay back in case of operation.

They said that they would announce their final strategy for peace on Tuesday next and made it clear that if operation was imposed on them they would hold the MPs and district nazim responsible for the property and human losses.