MANSEHRA, July 19: The elders of Torghar district have vowed to protect the government forests from timber mafia if it lifts the ban on cutting of trees in parts of Gazara forests owned by the local people.

“We will also protect the government forests from smugglers if the government allowed us to cut trees in our own areas in Gazara forests,” said the elders at a jirga held in Oghi on Tuesday.

Torghar District Coordination Officer Fareed Khan had summoned the jirga to announce steps for protection of the thick forests, as in past the illegal cutting and smuggling of timber to other parts of the country was rampant through the Indus River and other unfrequented routes.

District Officer Revenue Farzand Ali and District Forest Officer Bahadar Sher also attended the gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, the elders including Mohammad Sultan, Haji Simreen, Talib Khan, Abdul Rasheed and others called for strict check on illegal cutting of trees from the government forests and punishment to the violators.

They said that the government should lift the ban on cutting of the forests owned by the local people so that they could earn their livelihood and restrict the illegal cutting by the timber smugglers.

Farzand Ali and Bahadar Sher told the jirga that they would take up the issue with the government and the tribesmen would be informed about the government decision in the coming jirga to be held next week. They said that the people should extend full support to the government action against timber smugglers in Torghar.