K-P govt convenes peace jirga on Nov 12

Provincial leadership to consult former governors, CMs

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced that a provincial peace jirga will be held on November 12 at the K-P Assembly, bringing together political parties, former chief ministers, lawyers and civil society representatives to discuss the security situation and strategies for restoring peace in the province.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi will hold consultations with former governors and former chief ministers ahead of the jirga to incorporate their input.

Invitations have also been extended to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan (MWM) central chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri.

The decision to convene the jirga was taken during the first meeting of a special parliamentary committee on peace and counterterrorism, which was formed by the provincial assembly earlier this month.

The meeting, chaired by CM Afridi, concluded that dialogue among all stakeholders was essential to ensure sustainable peace and social cohesion in the region.

A follow-up meeting of the committee, composed mainly of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, was held on Monday.

The committee finalised November 12 as the date for the peace jirga and decided that all political parties in the province would be invited to participate.

Committee member Irfan Saleem said that the purpose of the jirga was to unite all political leaders on a single platform for lasting peace and stability in K-P.

"Invitations will be extended to all provincial party heads, presidents, and general secretaries, as well as representatives from civil society and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Association," he said.

Sources confirmed that CM Sohail Afridi would meet former governors and chief ministers prior to the jirga to seek their suggestions, which would then be presented for discussion during the assembly session.

A joint declaration is expected to be issued at the end of the jirga, outlining a unified political roadmap for peace in the province.