LAKKI MARWAT: A large number of protesting Janikhel tribesmen stayed along Baran Bridge near Bannu city on the second day on Thursday as Bakkakhel elders and provincial transport minister Malik Shah Mohammad Khan spent a busy day to settle the issues peacefully.

On Wednesday, Janikhel tribesmen had clashed with police near Tochi Bridge when they started proceeding towards the federal capital along with the body of slain tribal chief Malik Naseeb Khan who was killed by unknown assailants in Zindi Alikhel area on May 30.

After a 23-day protest sit-in the protesters began a march towards Islamabad when talks with the local administration failed.

The Wednesday’s clash had left a protester dead and scores of others, including policemen, injured.

Sensing gravity of the situation, the elders from Bakkakhel tribe engaged Janikhel elders in talks and they along with the provincial transport minister continued negotiations on the second day.

On this occasion, Malik Moeez Khan, an elder of Janikhel, said the government had carried out an operation in the area in 2009 to restore peace and since then the elders were being targeted and killed.

The minister told the elders that the government was serious in implementation of the agreement made with them earlier and asked them to form a committee for talks with officials of the administration.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021