PESHAWAR: The political administration of South Waziristan Agency acknowledged on Wednesday that unknown elements had circulated pamphlets late last month warning people against holding “cultural and social activities” like music and dance.

“A few ‘criminal-minded’ people who were not representing the tribes or will of the people in Wana held a meeting to ban certain social activities,” said an official statement issued by the administration in response to a report published in Dawn’s Wednesday issue under the headline “Peace committee slaps Taliban-style curbs on Wana”.

The Dawn report said unidentified people claiming to be members of a “peace committee”, besides “banning” music and dance, had warned women against leaving their homes unescorted by a male relative.

According to the administration, the elders of the region called a “grand Jirga” to deliberate on the threat. The Jirga “agreed not to allow such elements to harm the social fabric”, the statement added.

The Jirga decided to deal sternly with “such unwanted elements”. The administration had order-ed arrest of the culprits, the statement said.

Dawn’s correspondent in Wana adds: No Jirga was held in Wana after the circulation of pamphlets in areas dominated by the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe.

Instead, announcements were made from mosques asking people to obey decisions of the so-called peace committee.

The committee has a strong influence in the area and people approach it for arbitration instead of the political administration. These commanders impose fines and operate their own lock-ups.

Activists of political parties seek permission from the “peace committee” to hold meetings.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017