January 22, 2010
In response to a seven point condition deadline set by the government for January 20, 2010, the Mehsud tribes’ jirga announced its agreement to hand over 378 wanted men, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
The jirga, which was attended by over 300 prominent elders agreed to extend full support to the government in maintaining peace and harmony in South Waziristan Agency. The conditions included surrender of 378 wanted persons, ban on display of heavy and automatic arms, acceptance of collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation(FCR) and abstaining from giving shelter to foreign militants.
Addressing the jirga, the tribal elders said Mehsud tribes did not want to fight the Pakistan Army since it was their own army and the tribal people were also serving in it. They said Pakistan was their own country for which their ancestors had given numerous sacrifices.
