Bara tribesmen form new peace body

BARA: A grand jirga of the Bar Qambarkhel tribe in Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency Wednesday formed a 50-member peace body called Amn Sharishta.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Nasir Khan Afridi presided over the jirga. A large number of tribal elders attended the event at Khyber House in Peshawar.Speaking on the occasion, the MNA asked the political administration to release the three people, who had been arrested by political administration several days back on various charges.
He said the peace body would strive to bring peace and cooperate with political administration and security forces in the restoration of peace in the area.“We want to curb militancy and rid the tribesmen of this menace,” the MNA said.
He added that during militancy, the elders supported the political administration and security forces. He said they would continue to cooperate with the political administration in the future too.
In his address, Political Agent of Khyber Agency Syed Shahab Ali Shah said the Bar Qambarkhel was a peace-loving and respectable tribe and its members had always cooperated with the political administration and security forces.He said the political administration had reduced the number of peace body members.
“A 50-member peace committee has been formed in consultation with the tribal elders, including MNA Nasir Khan, Senator Momin Khan and ANP leader Imran Afridi,” Shahab Ali said.He ordered the immediate release of three members of the old peace committee.
The jirga members appreciated the political agent for the release of three members of the peace body and announced to support the administration. Those who attended the jirga included ANP provincial leader Imran Afridi, former federal minister Hameedullah Jan and others.
Imran Afridi said the peace body would support the government and bring peace to the area. He said the government would continue supporting the committee and uphold the customs and traditions of the tribal people. However, Hameedullah Jan and several other elders expressed concern over the announcement of peace body members and walked out of the jirga.Meanwhile, the tribal elders announced to hold another jirga in Takia area of Bar Qambarkhel today to address the reservations of the former federal minister.