Pak jirga demands end to military operation in N Waziristan

A Pakistani tribal jirga today demanded an immediate end to the military operation in the restive North Waziristan region.
In a press release issued here, the jirga members demanded that the peace pact between the government and militants should be restored, so that peace could be maintained in war-torn North Waziristan.
The jirga said that they would make efforts to restore peace in the region through negotiation.
Earlier the North Waziristan grand jirga, led by Haji Sher Muhammad, met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani.
The tribal elders from North Waziristan were yesterday given a 15-day deadline to expel foreign fighters from the region.

The 64-member grand jirga was told that military action will be taken if peace in the North Waziristan region is not established within 15 days.

The jirga was also told to ensure safety of government installations and the convoys of security forces.
Abbasi called upon tribal elders to come forward and play a role to restore peace in tribal areas saying restoration of peace in tribal areas is a pre-requisite for progress and development of the country.
He said that repatriation of displaced people, progress and development is impossible without having peace in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).