World News | Pakistan: Jirga to settle Dala coal mine dispute under Sharia law

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan]Feb 24 (ANI): In an effort to quell tribal disputes, the Pakistani jirga has decided to demarcate land under Sharia law under the auspices of the local government, Dawn reports.

There is a land demarcation dispute between the Sunnikhel and Akhorwal tribes in the Kohat area.

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Warring tribes in the Darra Adamkhel tribal division announced that the matter would be decided within six months under Sharia law, Dawn reported.

Ashrafuddin, Assistant Commissioner of Dara, said militants from the Sunnikhel and Akhorwal tribes would immediately withdraw from their mountain positions and stick to the ceasefire.

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The military referred the matter to the local government on Monday after lengthy talks with representatives of the two tribes and local elders, Dawn reported.

Notably, coal deposits have been found in the Akhorwal area of ​​Darra Adam Khel, the homeland of these two tribes.

With no agreement on how to share the mines or the revenues they generate, the mine issue has been unresolved for years.

The Akhorwal tribe invaded the coal mine of the Sunnikhel tribe and built an illegal “fort” there.

Another local official, Azam Khan, said the Sunnikhel tribe had a pre-divided cemetery and houses on occupied land demarcated by elders from both sides.

The jirga said it would nominate members from both sides and their decisions would be binding on the warring tribes, Dawn newspaper reported.

When contacted by local tehsildar Muslim Afridi, the dispute over the ownership of the coal mine began in 2019 and tensions intensified after the two tribes began firing on each other’s positions on Saturday. The military had to step in to stop the exchange of fire.

Army officials also held talks with tribal members on Monday. However, both tribes reportedly rejected the solutions offered by the army and the local government, Dawn newspaper reported. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)