BAJAUR: A jirga on Tuesday settled a 50-year-long land dispute between rival tribes of Mamond tehsil here.

The enmity between Manawarkhel and Ghulamkhel tribes of hilly Zagai area has so far left five people dead and four others injured from both the sides.

A ceremony to this effect was arranged by Mulakhel welfare organisation, an association of local youth.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Dr Hamidur Rahman was also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, jirga members, including Maulana Mohammad Imran, Mufti Rahmatullah, Waheed Jan, Haji Sherawan, Sahib Jamal, Malik Said Arab Khan and Malik Mohammad Jan, said peaceful resolution of the dispute was need of the hour as it was posing a serious threat to the region’s peace.

The jirga members praised the elders from both the sides for extending their unconditional support to them in resolving the prolonged dispute.

On the occasion, MPA Hamidur Rahman, village council chairman Qari Abdul Wali and youth leader Khalid Khan called upon the elders and religious leaders to play their role in settling all types of disputes.

Later, members of the rival tribes hugged each other and pledged to turn their hostility into exemplary friendship.

They also thanked the jirga members for taking interest in settlement of their enmity amicably.

Meanwhile, traders’ bodies on Tuesday announced to observe a complete shutter down strike and hold rallies on Wednesday (today) against the imposition of multiple taxes by the government and the record inflation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of All Bajaur Traders’ Association held with its president Mohammad Hamid Sufi in the chair, according to a statement.

The meeting endorsed the decision of All Pakistan Traders’ Association for the countrywide shutter down strike against the taxes.

It was decided that traders would hold rallies in all the major bazaars of the district.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024