MANSEHRA: A jirga on Tuesday pledged its support to the government in its efforts to curb movement of miscreants crossing over into the Hazara division from Malakand, using Torghar district.

The jirga, held at the residence of MPA Zareen Gul Khan in Darband, was attended by elders from all the five tribes of the district.

Deputy commissioner Fazalur Rehman and district police officer Iftikharuddin Khattak were also in attendance.

Fazalur Rehman told the jirga that miscreants were entering Hazara from Malakand through Torghar, and it was responsibility of the local tribes to restrict their movement.

`And if the tribesmen don`t cooperate, the government will be forced to launch an operation in the district, he said.

`We have also reports that miscreants coming from Malakand have found save havens in Torghar and local people should unite to flush them out of their territory, demanded the district official.

DPO Iftikharuddin Khattak called for activating the committees constituted in the past to curb miscreants` activities.

He said with the support and cooperation of local people, the government had succeeded in eliminating miscreants in Hazara in thepast.

On the occasion, MPA Zareen Gul said people of Torghar were patriotic and law-abiding who were in the forefront during the independence movement. `Five tribes settled in Torghar since centuries will play their due role in maintaining state writ in their district,` he hoped.

The lawmaker said the local people would inform lawenforcement agencies about any suspect in the district.

`Local jirga played an important role when a military operation was started in Malakand and now it would also come up to the expectations of the government and local administration in curing terrorism,` he added.

Local elders, Haji Sultan Khan, Muzafar Shah, Jehanzeb Khan, Dr Laiq, Haji Hakeem Khan and others assured their full support to the administration in curing terrorism.

Sultan Khan said all the five tribes would also constitute committees in their respective areas to cooperate with law enforcement agencies for maintenance of peace.

`We would inform the lawenforcement agencies if any suspected person was spotted in their areas.

Elder Muzaffar Shah asked the government to address the problems facing the local tribesmen, saying development of the district was the best way to curb militancy.