PESHAWAR: The three-day ‘Pashtun Qaumi Jirga’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southern city Bannu has come to an end with the demands of parliamentary supremacy and protection of human rights in the country.
The VoA reported that the jirga has stressed the need on parliamentary supremacy and designing defense policy according the people’s aspirations. The jirga was hosted by Pashtun nationalist party Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), also demanded to end army’ influence on politics.
Read more: Jirga in Bannu discusses problems faced by Pashtuns
The participants of the jirga condemned the continuous detention of National Assembly member Ali Wazir and demanded his immediate release. The ‘Pashtun Qaumi Jirga’ was attended by the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leadership and elders from tribal districts, as well as intellectuals, lawyers, journalists and academics from KP and Balochistan.
The Jirga’s declaration called for the abolition of class education system, ensuring law and order and revival of country’s economy. The declaration stressed the need to prevent alleged incidents of targeted killings, prevention of displacement due to law and order issues, and promotion of mother tongue and culture.
Addressing the jirga, PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai demanded an end to the alleged exploitation of Pashtuns and the establishment of a commission to look into the damage caused by militancy.
Elders and political leaders attending the jirga expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, calling the alleged foreign intervention in the country a “threat to world peace”. The jirga’s statement also called on the United Nations and the Security Council to guarantee peace and stability in Afghanistan.
In response to the jirga demands, KP Chief Minister advisor on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said Pakistan Army has no political role. Commenting on the declaration, He said that the army has no role in the administrative affairs of the country. “The country currently has an elected political government and Prime Minister Imran Khan is the head of the country’s political administration,” Saif said.
Commenting on the demand for release of National Assembly member Ali Wazir, Barrister Saif said that there were cases registered against Ali Wazir which were pending in the courts. The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and others should approach the courts for his early release.
Barrister Saif, who will be presenting in the Pashtun Jirga, completely rejected the position that there is any abuse against Pashtuns.
According to him, “At present, Pashtuns have the largest share in the administrative and political affairs of the country after Punjab. Not only Prime Minister Imran Khan but also Leader of the Opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Awami League. Aimal Wali Khan of the National Party is also a Pashtun and is playing his part in the political system of the country.