| The tribal Jirga (grand assembly) on Tuesday failed to form a Lashkar (armed force) of 600 strong armed-men to hunt al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects in the tribal areas. The Jirga was adjourned till today, Wednesday after the participants could not agree whether the force should be formed before or after the release of their elders. A strong group in the Jirga was of the view that they would support the formation of the force if four of their leaders are released unconditionally. Thousands of people attended the Jirga held in Wana, headquarter of South Waziristan Agency, to press the government to free the four key tribal chiefs. Members representing different tribes in the Jirga said the presence of elders was necessary to organise the force to hunt down suspected foreign terrorists. The political administration has agreed to release the elders on bail but they are adamant on unconditional release. The four tribal elders were taken into custody for allegedly not cooperating with the political administration in operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda fugitives in South Waziristan Agency. |