Jirga settles land dispute in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The Thor and Harban tribes have finally agreed to the jirga decision under which the disputed land has been demarcated and the former would be given compensation money of the land if acquired for the construction of Diamer Basha dam.

The settlement of land issue between Harban tribe of Kohistan and Thor tribe of Chelas has now also resolved the boundary dispute between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The jirga members visited 8km disputed territory at the boundary between GB and KP and demarcated the land between them.

They decided that the land of disputed Khambri Nullah Put, which would be acquired for 42MW Diamer-Basha dam, would go to Harban tribe and they would get the compensation money for it. The remaining high mountains and land would go to Thor tribe.

The jirga also announced that whatever decisions were taken would be presented to both KP and GB governments through deputy commissioners of Kohistan and Chelas so that land compensation money could be paid to tribesmen of Harban (Kohistan).

The grand jirga also reiterated their decrees of permanent ceasefire henceforth and pardoning of blood money of four people killed in an exchange of fire between both tribes in 2014 over ownership of disputed land.

The jirga also decided to cooperate with the KP and GB governments in maintaining peace on Karakoram Highway so that mega development projects, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Diamer-Basha dam could be completed.

Attaullah Saz, a local told reporters that both tribes were happy with the outcome of the jirga.

He said that the jirga was held in friendly environment and both sides put forth their suggestions and demands which were addressed amicably in the larger interest of both the tribes. Deputy Commissioner of Kohistan Fazl-i-Khaliq praised the efforts of both tribes in settling the core issue between them.

He said that tension between both tribes over the ownership of disputed land was a big issue for the future of mega developmental projects but now after the jirga decrees both GB and KP governments could work in a hostile free environment.