KHYBER: Fata Qaumi Jirga (FQJ) has offered its services to mediate lasting peace in the restive Kurram district as it believes both the government-sponsored and the proscribed Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement-backed jirgas have failed to achieve the desired objectives.

They made the offer during a meeting held in Jamrud with its convener Malak Bismillah Khan in the chair.

The participants discussed the existing situation in Kurram and Tirah Valley of Khyber and expressed their dissatisfaction over the working of PTM and provincial government-backed jirgas as both these forums had so far ‘failed’ to restore peace in Kurram with roads to the region still closed and local residents faced with starvation-like situation.

The meeting, which was attended by FQJ representatives from all the seven merged districts, offered to negotiate with rival groups in Kurram as the jirga consisted of the ‘most respected’ and ‘experienced’ tribal elders who possessed vast knowledge of the tribal areas and their issues.

The FQJ also announced its stern opposition to any military operation in Tirah Valley and subsequent displacement of the families.

Meanwhile, Khyber chapter of Awami National Party has also expressed its serious concern about the provincial government’s ‘failure’ to handle the security situation in Tirah Valley, and called for elaborate arrangements for families which have recently left their homes due to insecurity.

Addressing a press conference at Bara Press Club on Monday, ANP Khyber president Abdur Raziq Afridi accused the provincial government of tacitly ‘approving’ the launch of a military operation in the region, and vowed that his party would resist any further military operations and displacement of families from Tirah.

He said that his party had in consultation with all stakeholders formed a jirga to negotiate a ceasefire in Tirah and prevent the displacement of families from there.

RELAXATION IN TAXES: Khyber Mines Owners’ Association president Asghar Afridi has demanded of the provincial government to provide them relief in taxes, and also lift ban on the use of explosives in mining.

Talking to reporters at the Bara Press Club, he said that mining in Bara was adversely affected due to militancy and recent imposition of additional taxes along with a 15-year-long ban on use of explosives in mining.

He said over a decade-long closure of a large number of mines coupled with ban on explosives had rendered hundreds of mineworkers jobless while the owners had incurred huge financial losses.

Mr Afridi said issuance of EL-04 licence for use of controlled explosives and relaxation in taxes would hugely benefit the mining industry in Bara, leading to job creation.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024