KHYBER: A nine-member jirga was constituted on Friday to help resolve the contentious issues between the Khugakhel tribe and the government arising out of the construction of a customs terminal at the Torkham border.

Following the constitution of the jirga, the Khugakhel tribesmen ended their three days long protest and agreed to resolve the issue through negotiations.

The jirga was formed after a meeting between the government officials and the Khugakhel elders held in Landi Kotal here.

Speaking on the occasion, Commandant Khyber Rifles Colonel Rizwan Nazir claimed that some elements with vested interest were involved in spreading baseless propaganda regarding an agreement between the government and the Khugakhel tribe on acquisition of land for construction of a customs terminal at the Torkham border.

He disclosed that a total of 727 kanals of land was acquired by the Federal Board of Revenue from the tribe under an agreement in 2016. He said out of total acquired land, 200 kanals was state property while the rest of 526 kanals belonged to the Khugakhel tribesmen, and the owners had been duly compensated.

He said 15 per cent of the daily income of the customs terminal was also shared with Khugakhel families on monthly basis.

Col Nazir said the Khugakhel tribesmen were given access to the daily record of the terminal, but even then some elements were spreading baseless propaganda against the National Logistics Cell and other government departments regarding utilisation of their land for construction purposes.

Terming the claim of occupation of any extra land by the government as baseless, he categorically said a master plan was devised for construction of the Torkham customs terminal and the NLC was carrying out its construction under the master plan provided to them by the FBR.

He reminded the Khugakhel elders that five out of the nine members of a negotiating or arbitration committee had also signed the revised agreement in July last year and the government honoured the decision of the majority.

Speaking on the occasion, Khyber deputy commissioner Mansoor Arshad advised the Khugakhel elders to sit together and resolve their internal differences rather than resorting to agitation and road blockades.

The jirga would help ensure effective implementation of the agreement between the tribe and the authorities.

On Wednesday, agitated Khugakhel tribesmen had forcibly stopped the construction work on a customs terminal at the Torkham border after breaking through a police barricade at the Machini checkpost.

Covering a distance of about seven kilometres from Landi Kotal to Torkham on foot, the protesting tribesmen had forcibly stopped the construction work amid cheers and sloganeering.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2022