Tribal Grand jirga meets NWFP Governor & Rumours of assemblies’ dissolution

Tribal Grand jirga meets NWFP Governor

PESHAWAR: The Grand Tribal Jirga, which had proceeded in Miranshah during this month following termination of peace accord with government, returned to Peshawar on Monday and called on the NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. (R) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai at Governor’s House.
However, the grand jirga returned to the tribal areas to discuss with local Talibans about ongoing negotiation with governor of NWFP.
The Jirga, comprising elders from all the seven tribal Agencies and six FRs briefed the Governor on progress of their negotiations with Utmanzai tribesmen of North Waziristan.
While briefing the Governor, the Jirga members said that while some progress had been made during the two days negotiations with the tribesmen of North Waziristan Agency, more time and effort would be required for conclusive and purposeful dialogue.
The Jirga will re-assemble at 9 AM on July 24 in Governor’s House.




Rumours of assemblies’ dissolution in Peshawar

Staff Report
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C07%5C24%5Cstory_24-7-2007_pg7_42
PESHAWAR: Rumours regarding dissolution of the assemblies and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Ihsanul Haq replacing President Pervez Musharraf spread like wild fire in the city on Monday and divided the lawyers’ Thanksgiving Day rally.
Around 200 lawyers left the rally after hearing rumours that the assemblies had been dissolved and General Ihsanul Haq had taken over as president. “We have done the job and President Pervez Musharraf is gone,” some lawyers stated while entering the PHC building.
Lawyers switched on television at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) barroom to find out if Musharraf had been deposed, but they failed to learn about any news regarding the assemblies’ dissolution.
Following lawyers’ announcement of assemblies’ dissolution, numerous people phoned their relatives in Islamabad. “I phoned Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar, who denied that Musharraf is gone, and said these are just rumours being spread by the Peshawar-based lawyers,” PML-Q Advocate Amin told Daily Times.
Lawyers were disappointed to find out that reports of the assemblies’ dissolution were just rumours. “I was sure that Musharraf was no longer in power, while Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry had already been reinstated. But it was disappointing to know that the reports were rumours,” woman lawyer Musarrat Hilali said.
“When our rally reached the Balahisar Fort, some lawyers said assemblies had been dissolved, which was why we returned to the PHC instead of following the lawyers’ car rally that consisted of about 50 cars proceeding towards the city,” she added.
“We would have be observing a double thanksgiving day had the military rule really been ended,” stated Advocate Nasrullah. Advocate Ziaur Rehman Tajik said the rumours would one day be proved true, adding that the days of the Musharraf-rule were numbered.