Thousands flock to venue for Pashtun Qaumi Jirga

PESHAWAR: Thousands of people thronged the venue as the Pashtun jirga of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) got underway on the boundary of Peshawar and Khyber districts on Friday as Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited the site and assured all facilities for the gathering.

The enthusiastic activists and supporters of the PTM managed to reach the venue of the jirga from different parts of the country despite numerous hurdles. Camps for almost all districts of the Pashtun region, including a separate tent for the families of missing persons, were set up at the venue.

On the first day, the jirga organizers remained busy setting up tents.

They said that the workers had managed to secure tents and other necessary materials from other districts and a few truckloads of tents and generators had arrived at the venue.

One of the organisers told this scribe that the tents and generators were provided by the provincial government for the jirga.

No security personnel were seen at the jirga venue on Friday. Three PTM workers were killed, and 10 others were injured on October 9 when the government launched a crackdown on jirga participants. The organisers complained that a large number of people were still stuck on the roads as they were not being allowed to proceed for attending the jirga.

“The formal proceedings of the jirga are expected to start today (Saturday), as most of the first day was spent on preparations,” said an organiser.

Meanwhile, the governor visited the venue and directed the authorities to ensure law and order and safety of the people.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who was entrusted by the grand Jirga to hold talks with the PTM leaders, also visited the venue for the jirga and inspected the security and other arrangements.

The KP government representatives, officials of the divisional and district administrations, police and other officials were present on the occasion.

The officials briefed the chief minister on the arrangements made for the jirga. The chief minister ordered that all facilities should be provided on priority basis.

He said drinking water, temporary toilets, lighting, medical and other necessary facilities should be ensured. He ordered the provision of 5000 blankets to the participants of the jirga.

Talking to the media after meeting the organisers, the chief minister said he would plead the case of the Pashtun Qaumi Jirga. “I am ready to sit with anyone for peace on the Pashtun soil and rights of the province,” said Gandapur.

He said he had secured authority from the federal government for the Pashtun Qaumi Jirga. “This is our province and no interference will be tolerated here,” he added.

The chief minister said the jirga would present legitimate demands in the form of a resolution. “We will raise a voice for these demands at every forum,” he promised.

He said he was feeling happy that a jirga was being convened in our province as per the Pakhtun traditions which was being attended by Pakhtuns from all over the country.

The chief minister, however, said the federal government by using the power as enshrined in the Constitution resorted to shelling against the orginsers even before the jirga had started formally. He said the firing later claimed four lives and injuries to 10 citizens and two security forces personnel.

The chief minister said restoration of peace was the most important and biggest demand in our province. “Especially, the people of the tribal districts have suffered highly because of lawlessness,” he added.

Gandapur said the tribal people had offered great sacrifices for peace and were even displaced. He saluted them for these sacrifices. “These sacrifices will not go to waste,” said the chief minister. In response to a question, he said he might not like to sit with some people in personal capacity due to what happened to him in Islamabad recently, but I sat with them for the nation, KP and its people to have the issue resolved. “I will definitely talk to them in future as well as to all those who would work for the restoration of peace in the province,” he added.