Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In a major development in South Waziristan, aman committees have been barred from performing security duties in Wana, the headquarter of the tribal district.

The decision was taken at a jirga on Tuesday, in view of repeated complaints of highhandedness by these committees. Ahmadzai Wazir tribe representatives and the deputy commissioner of South Waziristan were in attendance. The jirga unanimously agreed that the civil administration with assistance from the tribe will maintain security in Wana and no non-state actors would be allowed to take the law into their own hands, or sabotage peace.

A written agreement was issued on the occasion a copy is which is available with Daily Times. It states that after a lengthy round of discussions, it was decided that ‘anyone found violating established laws will be dealt as per law and tribal tradition’.

A local elder wishing anonymity said the agreement was materialised following hectic efforts by the newly-elected South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir and other tribal elders.

According to the agreement, the administrative control of Wana bazaar will be handed over to Levies and Khasadars. The aman committee will not interfere in the affairs of these forces.

According to the agreement, the civil administration will gradually take control of the security of peripheral areas in Wana sub division. Further, the document said that non-state actors would not be allowed to sabotage peace anywhere, and anyone found violating rules would be dealt with in accordance with the established tribal customs. It said that the role of tribal elders in dispute resolution would be restored the way it earlier used to be.

Noor Muhammad, a resident of South Waziristan, hailed the agreement as ‘a landmark decision, which will leave a far-reaching positive impact on peace and stability in the area’.

He said that the newly elected lawmaker Ali Wazir from South Waziristan has been making hectic efforts to restore peace and revive the role of tribal elders in the larger interest of the community.

In June this year, Wana had experienced a bloody clash when members of the aman committee opened fire on workers of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), leaving one protester dead and over a dozen wounded.

Published in Daily Times, August 29^th 2018.