Khyber Agency/PESHAWAR - Banned outfit Amar Bilmaroof was dissolved in a grand jirga attended by tribal elders, security forces and political administration in Khyber Agency paving way for establishing peace in Bar Qambar Khel after a period of 12 years, reported a private TV channel on Saturday.
Pakistani flag was hoisted after de-mounting the flag of defunct outfit Amar Bilmarrof. A peace centre comprising 150 tribal elders has been set up in the area after seven years. Establishment of a peace centre was decided in the jirga. The jirga decided to hand over heaving weaponry to the security forces. Display of arms was also banned by the jirga.
The jirga further decided to impose a fine of Rs 20 million on committing a murder crime apart from setting ablaze house of the culprit. The jirga said that no flag other than Pakistan will be hoisted in the Bara tehsil. Any violation of the decisions taken by peace jirga will entail a penalty of Rs 5 million on the violator.
The jirga also formed a peace lashkar (peace militia). The Namdar outfit was dissolved. People have been told to avoid indulging in personal enmities for at least three years. All educational institutes will reopen in Bara after a period of about 12 years.
The joint jirga was reportedly presided over by Bara APA Nasir Khan, sources said. Prominent tribal elders participated in the jirga.
The sources also said that Bar Qamber Khel Namdar Group would be annexed into the tribal Peace Shareshta (traditional tribal group) at Bara to establish peace and restore government writ in the area so that people could live a peaceful life. The jirga also expressed satisfaction over the role of security forces for establishing peace in the restive Bara sub division of Khyber Agency.
It was also learnt from the sources that similar shareshta would be formed in the remaining tribes of Bara which would play the role to further establish peace.
The sahreshta would be responsible for maintaining security measures and that FC and KKF forces would support them to create an environment of peace and tranquility in Bara.
The political administration has also said that after the announcement by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Khan, the displaced persons of Bara would be repatriated into their houses shortly.
TRIBAL JIRGA DEMANDS COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE FOR BARA IDPS
Tribal elders hailing from restive tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency demanded the government to extend a comprehensive compensation package and ensure voluntary return of internally displaced families to their respective hometowns.
The demand was made during a Tribal Jirga convened by Tehrik-i-Haqooq-e-Bara, a movement launched for the rights of internally dislocated families from tehsil Bara, at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday.
In the jirga besides tribal elites and elders from the main seven clans of Afridi tribes, traders, lawyers, ulema and students hailing from Khyber Agency also took part.
Leaders of Khyber Union Haris Afridi, President Sohbat Khan, Malik Muhammad Hussain, Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Agency chapter Ameer Ikhtiyar Badshah, General Secretary Muhammad Rafiq and Shah Jehan Afridi addressed the participants of the jirga.
Patron of the jirga Shah Faisal Afridi while chairing the gathering regretted that the government did not take notice of the step-motherly treatment meted out to the helpless people of Bara during the last six years.
He said that educational institutions, heath facilities, business activities and even basic infrastructure were badly damaged due to military operations and militancy during the last six years in Bara Tehsil.
“Owing to military action against militants, thousands of tribal families were compelled to migration due to which a large number of male and female students deprived of education and even basic health facilities,” he added.
He said that all tribal people are patriotic citizens and have equal right like other countrymen have, as their elders rendered numerous sacrifices for the protection of frontiers of the country. Malik Hussain from Malikdinkhel clan of Afridi tribe said the policy of using force in the area is a futile exercise and all issues should be resolved through negotiations.
Maulana Shoaib, another tribal elder while talking about agony of tribesmen, said Bara has been turned into rubble due to excessive military actions in the tribal agency.
“Our houses, bazaars, roads and other infrastructure have been destroyed during last six years,” he lamented.
He said that the IDPs have not been provided adequate facilities at their makeshift camp. He said it was dire need of the hour to extend a comprehensive compensation package to Bara’s IDPs on the pattern provided to militancy-affected people of Malakand division.
Expressing concern over distribution of substandard food among IDPs, Shah Faisal Afridi suggested instead of food distribution, the government should provide cash amount through Automatic Trailers Machines (ATMs) to end corruption in the assistance. He said the increasing cold weather has also multiplied miseries of the IDPs and a winter package should also be announced for them.
He asked the government to make proper arrangements for accommodation and hostel facility for IDP students of grade IX and X while keeping in view the metric examinations scheduled in March.
The government, he demanded, should ensure voluntary return of the displaced families to their respective areas and urged to extend a comprehensive package for revival of business activities in Bara, Khyber Agency.