Bara alliance to stage May 7 Peshawar sit-in

The Bara Political Alliance has announced a protest sit-in in Peshawar on May 7, demanding resolution of issues facing the displaced people of Tirah Valley, ensuring their dignified return, and protesting against rising unrest in Bara Akakhel.

The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after a joint jirga of Afridi tribes, organised by the Bara Political Alliance. The jirga was attended by alliance president Hasham Khan Afridi, leaders of various political parties from Bara and Tirah, social activists, officials of social organisations and unions, and local elders and notables.

Speaking on the occasion, Amir of Khyber chapter chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Shah Faisal Afridi, said the Bara Political Alliance had been begging the government for peace for the past four years. "We have held dozens of protests and peace marches, but sadly peace could not be established in our region due to the negligence and carelessness of the federal and provincial governments," he added.

Shah Faisal Afridi accused the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister of misleading the public by claiming that decisions made in closed rooms were unacceptable. "The reality is that he himself is part of those closed-room decisions," Afridi charged.

Meanwhile, young leader Khan Wali Afridi told jirga participants that the time had come for them to unite. "The issue of peace is our common problem. Our children and women are falling victim to mortar shells on a daily basis," he said.

Khan Wali Afridi added that the Constitution and laws of the country allow them to demand their rights. "We are demanding peace through peaceful protest. Living in a peaceful environment is the right of every citizen, and we will come out on May 7 for this right," he asserted.

Separately, the Tahrik-e-Mutasireen Tirah announced its support for the May 7 protest demonstration in Peshawar. Movement spokesman Sohbat Khan Afridi told The Express Tribune: "We, the Tirah victims, support the protest demonstration being held in Peshawar on May 7 under the auspices of the Bara Political Alliance."

However, he added a caveat: "If at any point we feel that the Bara Political Alliance is merely doing politics over us and compromising on the issues of Tirah victims and their dignified return, we will immediately withdraw from this protest sit-in and announce a boycott. But if they speak only for the dignified return of Tirah victims and restoration of peace, we will stand with them."

It may be recalled that a tribal Loya Jirga (grand council) was convened at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The jirga was attended by parliamentarians elected from tribal districts, along with local elders, notables, and youth.

Releasing the decisions of the jirga, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the Loya Jirga strongly condemned the killing of women, children, and elderly people in drone strikes. All participants demanded negotiations with stakeholders.