Before a three-day gathering being organized by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), which was recently banned, a grand jirga named Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to resolve peace-related issues in the province.
The PTM was banned by the federal government on Sunday because it posed a threat to national security and peace. On Tuesday, the KP government issued a public warning against any association and prohibited its officials and employees from participating in the three-day Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga, also known as the Pashtun Qaumi Adalat. Section 144 was also imposed on the district by retired Captain Sanaullah Khan, the Khyber Deputy Commissioner.
The action was taken prior to the grand jirga, which was to take place on October 11 in the Khyber district. In clear defiance of the directive from the federal government, zealous activists gathered on Sunday evening at the location of their three-day jirga in Jamrud and pledged to hold the event.
The ban had been criticized by the PTI, and the KP Assembly also criticized the police’s action against PTM activists in the Khyber district, which led to three deaths a day earlier.
In a video message on Wednesday night, KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Saif reiterated the federal government’s stance and restrictions, announcing that CM Gandapur had instructed Khyber MPAs to ease tensions and inviting all parties to a grand jirga on the matter.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Salim Swati, and a number of political party leaders attended today’s grand jirga at the Chief Minister’s House.
The assembled members “assigned CM Gandapur with the responsibility to conduct a peace jirga with all relevant stakeholders to solve all matters through consultation and peaceful means,” according to a statement from Barrister Saif.
According to the statement, CM Gandapur accepted the responsibility of leading a peace jirga and thanked the participants for placing their faith in him.
It also said that the consultation process and strategy for finding a solution to all problems would soon be finished, and the chief minister said that he would host a peace jirga.
CM Gandapur stated in his address to the jirga: I am grateful to all political leaders and parliamentarians for accepting my invitation to participate in the jirga. Additionally, I am grateful to all political leaders and parliamentarians for trusting me to lead this jirga.
He stated that everyone had gathered regardless of political affiliation for the province’s peace.
“I hope that through this jirga we will be able to find a way for a peaceful solution to the problem we are facing,” the president stated. “Protection of life and property of the citizens is our first responsibility and priority.”
The chief minister emphasized that negotiations, not conflict or violence, could be used to resolve issues.
We have organized this jirga today in accordance with Pashtun customs for this purpose. He stated, “All of the political leaders participating in the jirga’s opinions and suggestions will be fully respected.”
CM Gandapur had expressed the hope that a solution to the tension would be found together for the benefit of the province, its people, and the country in a statement that was released in the early hours of Thursday and addressed the situation in the province regarding the PTM jirga.
According to the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Governor Kundi also emphasized the significance of peace in the province during the jirga. Like the chief minister, he did so.
He thanked the provincial government for organizing the event in his address to the gathering. He acknowledged the political differences that exist and emphasized that the province’s safety and prosperity remained the top priorities.
In light of ongoing difficulties, such as the situation in Afghanistan, he asserted that negotiations were necessary for issue resolution.
He emphasized the urgency of addressing security concerns by mentioning the escalation of violence and deaths in Khyber and the fact that many parts of the province were still regarded as no-go zones.
In order to establish peace, he urged cooperation from all parties involved, including the federal and provincial governments.
Participants were urged to work together to find solutions by the governor, who emphasized the significance of dialogue with those who uphold the laws and Constitution. To bring peace to our province, we must collaborate,” he said at the end.
Naqvi and Muqam attended a recent significant high-level meeting at the Governor’s House.
Awami National Party President Aimal Wali Khan, Sikandar Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party, the KP inspector general of police, and KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry were among the notable participants.
The urgent security issues and strategies for improving the province’s situation were discussed at the meeting.
