Shamim Shahid
Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday announced that the provincial administration will host the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement’s (PTM) jirga and ensure that all the matters are resolved peacefully.
The federal government agreed, in principle, to lift a recently-imposed ban on the PTM during a multiparty grand jirga, hosted by the provincial government on Thursday.
The jirga agreed that the “proscribed” PTM would be allowed to hold its scheduled Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga today (Friday), which would be hosted by the KP government and attended by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
“We will host this jirga and it will be peaceful,” Gandapur told reporters.
“The people will be able to present their demands through the jirga and resolutions,” Gandpur pledged, saying he would resolve the problems raised at the jirga.
“People will come from across the province, sit down and present their issues. They will present their demands according to their district and as CM, I will put these demands in a resolution and try to fulfil them.
“We will continue our efforts and sacrifices for peace,” the CM said.
The chief minister expressed his happiness that a jirga took place “according to Pashtun traditions”, referring to the grand jirga on Thursday. “The government participated, which they have the power to.
He, however, said that “just because there are powers does not mean that they should all be used.”
“In using that power, they shelled a peaceful gathering, which left four people dead and 10 others injured. It is deeply upsetting,” Gandapur said. “Our people have demanded peace because they have suffered and sacrificed so much.
“Nations are formed through sacrifices,” he said. “I hope the sacrifices bear fruit.”
