For harmony: Jirga convened in Hangu to further peace overtures between sects

Commissioner gives 20-day deadline, saying the govt will otherwise propose solution.

HANGU:

A jirga to resolve sectarian differences was convened with elders from both Sunni and Shia communities at the deputy commissioner’s office in Hangu on Friday.

Commissioner Jamaluddin directed participants from the Shia Aman Committee and Sunni Aman Committee to chalk out a plan within 20 days to resolve their differences and put an end to sectarian violence. He criticised elders for failing to come up with a solution in previous meetings, despite the cooperation of the district authorities.

Situated on the border of Kurram and Orakzai agencies, the sensitive district has a bloody history with sectarian violence dating back several decades. However, the recent trend in targeting government school teachers from both sects has added a dangerous chapter to the issue. On May 13, two teachers were gunned down while going to school, triggering protests in Kohat and Hangu. Even students hit the streets to condemn the killings. This was the fourth such attack in the district in three months and like the others, it was reported to be sectarian in nature.

A similar jirga was held on April 2, where both parties were supposed to agree to settle their disagreements by April 19. However, members on both sides were unable to reach a consensus on certain points and the meeting concluded with no concrete results.

Jamaluddin warned if both sides did not talk over their issues and agree on a solution, the government will take over and propose its own plan which both groups would have to accept without objections.

He asked that two people be appointed from each sect within three days to take the lead in restoring peace in the area. Any group that is not interested in negotiations or will employ delay tactics will be considered responsible for sabotaging the peace process, he added.

The meeting was attended by several officials including, DIG Kohat Ishtiaq Marwat, Hangu Deputy Commissioner Naeem Anwar and Hangu DPO Anwar Saeed. Shabir Khan, Atiqur Rahman, and Haji Shafiq were some of the Sunni elders who participated while Malik Irfan, Zahir Hussain and Rahmat Hussain represented the Shia community.

The government has already proposed a possible solution to the recent spate of killings in this week’s assembly session. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Atif Khan informed the house the government was trying to adjust teachers of different religious sects to their respective areas in Hangu district due to threats posed to their lives. However, some say this may create further divisions among the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2014.