GHALANAI: A jirga of Balzai, Khewazai and Musakhel tribes on Friday decided to fulfil their collective territorial responsibility in Mohmand Agency.

Addressing the jirga here, elders of different sub-tribes of Baizai said the tribesmen would play their due role in the restoration of law and order situation in the region.

They said they would support security forces and local administration in the crackdown on terrorism.

The elders said the Lakhkar Kalli land mine blast was not an act of militancy as the motive behind it was personal enmity.

They said the house of those behind the blast would be demolished and that they would be handed over to the administration for punish-ment.

Speaking on the occasion, assistant political agent Baizai Pir Abdullah Shah urged tribesmen to fulfil their collective responsibility and strictly monitor the movement of anti-state elements in their respective areas.

`It is our joint responsibility to maintain law and order and establish the writ of the government in our region,` he said.

He said peace was imperative for development in the area.

The APA urged the local tribesmen living in Peshawar, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Lahore and othersparts ofthe country toreturn.

The jirga decided that the tribesmen found sheltering anti-state elements would be fined Rs0.5 million each.

PASSING-OUT PARADE: The passing-out parade of the eighth batch of the Mohmand Levies recruits was held here on Friday.

A total of 83 recruits completed their basic training to formally join the ranks of the force.

The deputy commandant of Mohmand Levies, the assistant political agent of the agency, tribal elders, levies personals and family members ofrecruits attended the event.

LEISHMANISASIS CASES: Around 1,000 cases of leishmaniasis, a skin disease caused by sand fly, have been reported in Mohmand Agency during the last five months, say the relevant officials.

Among the areas affected by the disease are Qandari, Chmar Kand, Attokhel, Ghanam Shah, Boutha Masood, Ziarat Kali, Ghazi Baig and Mamad Gat.

The officials fear the incidence of leishmaniasis will increase if preventive steps against it aren`t taken.

Agency surgeon Dr Razaullah Khan told Dawn that the health department had recorded at least 1,000 leishmanisasis cases in Safi, Biazai and Pandilai tehsils of Mohmand Agency with children, especially girls of the age group of 1-5, being majority of the victims.

He said the treatment could take around one month depending on the severity of the patient`s condition.

Another local health official complained about unavailability of anti-leishmanisasis injections.