PARACHINAR, Feb 7: The local poets highlighted the plight of tribal people and gave a message of peace and sectarian harmony through their couplet during a poetry recitation session held in the snow-covered Spinghar mountainous range in Kurram Agency.

The two-day peace mushaira (poetry recitation session) that concluded on Thursday was participated by local poets, journalists, political administration officials, tribal elders and youth.

The mushaira was organised jointly by Spinghar Literary Jirga and Parachinar Press Club. The peace mushaira was held for the first time in 2011 to celebrate restoration of peace after a deal was inked among various tribes of Kurram and Tall-Parachinar Road was reopened after four consecutive years of tension in Kurram Agency.

Sitting in a circle on the snow-covered ground, the poets recited couplets to highlight the prevailing situation and appreciate the efforts for restoration of peace and tranquility in the region. Ozair Khamosh, Fakhri Bangash, Arif Jan, Roshan Bangash, Hakeem Muslim, Noor Zaman and other poets from Turi, Mangal, Bangash and Para Chamkani tribes presented their poems on the occasion and got appreciation from the participants.

The tribal youth also presented Ghary (traditional Turi dance) at the end of the mushaira.

Addressing on the occasion, Political Agent Yousuf Rahim and Political Officer Javedullah appreciated the efforts of Spinghar Literary Jirga and Parachinar Press Club for holding the function.

They lauded writers and journalists for their efforts for restoration of peace in the violence-ravaged Kurram. They said that administration had planned to organise mushairas and sports galas at three different places in the agency to promote sectarian harmony.

Press club chairman Ali Afzal Afzal and Adabi Jirga chairman Prof Jamil Kazmi vowed to struggle for promoting positive activities in the region.

Talking to journalists, Qazi Naeem, Mehboob Ali Paracha, Haji Syed Ejaz and former councillor Haji Asghar said that tribal people would play their role in promotion of positive activities.

They said that law and order situation was the worst in the region for the last four years. “The major routes to the agency were closed. There was a famine-like situation. But with the grace of Allah and sincere efforts of tribal elders, poets, writers, journalists and other sane elements peace has been restored,” they said.

They said that all residents of Kurram agency were brothers. They urged them not to play in the hands of enemies of humanity.