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| India-Pakistan |
| Jirgas discuss LI presence in Khyber |
| 2008-08-30 |
| The Landi Kotal political administration summoned two jirgas on Friday to discuss law and order after the advent of the Lashker-e-Islam (LI) into the area. In the first jirga, Landi Kotal Assistant Political Agent (APA) Muhammad Tuhab Khan asked elders of the Zakha Khel tribe to expel LI chief Mangal Bagh from the Khyber area where he had captured a mosque after expelling its prayer leader. The APA said military action would be inevitable if the elders failed to convince the LI chief to vacate the area. Lauding some of the steps of the LI such as its action against criminals in Bara tehsil, Tuhab said the militant organisation had started to force its decisions upon people after gaining roots in the area. Zakha Khel chief Malik Abdul Haleem Khan told the APA that the administration had failed to protect the main road from criminals. No action: He said tribesmen would never "raise weapons against their own people who are struggling to spread virtue and curb vice in society". He rejected the APA's claim that the LI had captured any mosque in Landi Kotal. Tribal elders Malik Abdul Haleem and Malik Hasan Khan assured the administration that LI men would leave the area in a few days. They said the people could not afford a military operation, adding that law and order could be improved through consultations. While talking to elders of the Shinwari tribe, Tuhab criticised some tribesmen for inviting the LI chief to the agency. The jirga of the Shinwari tribe was postponed until Saturday (today). |
| Posted by:Fred |