PESHAWAR: Activists of different political groups on Sunday staged peace rallies in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding of the “killers” of Pakhtuns to leave their region before being forced to do so.

The rallies were held under the banner of ‘Pakhtun Ulasi Pasoon’ (Pakhtun public uprising), to show solidarity with the decisions and resolutions passed at the three-day Pakhtun Qaumi Jirga, which concluded in Khyber district on October 13.

Besides activists of the banned Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), people from different walk of life also participated in these rallies.

In Peshawar, a peace rally was held outside the press club. Addressing the gathering, religious leader Mufti Munir Shakir declared that in the ongoing war on terror, one warring group killed the Pakhtuns in the name of Islam, while the other killed them in the name of law and order.

“Both the warring parties have the certificates of killing the Pakhtuns with the different justifications,” he said. “We can force the Pakhtuns’ killers to leave our region by taking arms but we believe in peace,” he said.

Meanwhile, the people of Swat on Sunday also unanimously endorsed and supported the decisions made during the Khyber jirga.

They were speaking at a large gathering held at the Nishtar Chowk, organised by Swat Olasi Pasoon and PTM, with participation from political leaders, elders and youth.

Prominent speakers at the event included Attaullah Jan Advocate from PTM, Sardarul Mulk Khan from Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, Dr Khalid Mahmood of Swat traders’ federation, Ajab Khan Toryalay from PTM, Adul Rahim, Malakand division president of traders’ federation, Ayub Asharey, ANP district president, Badar Sher Afghan, Maulana Nasarullah Baber from JUI-F, Aftab Khan Yousafzai of Olasi Pasoon, Iqbal Hussain Baley of PPP and Gul Naz, a representative of the Swat missing persons.

The speakers commended the Pakhtun people and PTM for successfully organising the jirga despite the “government’s opposition”. They affirmed that the people of Swat believed all decisions made during the jirga were legal and in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.

“We are excited that Pashtuns, for the first time, have united to demand their rights, and we, the people of Swat, fully support and endorse the decisions announced at the Khyber jirga,” they said, demanding that the government comply with these resolutions.

Ask ‘killers’ of Pakhtuns to leave region before being forced out

The speakers emphasised that the people of Swat had endured immense suffering and injustices over the past 20 years, sacrificing greatly for the country. “Despite standing up for our homeland and resisting terrorists, our innocent people were killed, forcibly disappeared, and their lives and properties were destroyed,” they added.

They also expressed their commitment to following the directives of the 80-member committee formed at the jirga if their demands were not met. “We are now clear that the Taliban and security forces are two sides of the same coin, and we believe that both must leave our land. Swat will only be peaceful without their presence,” they declared.

Additionally, the speakers warned against any attempts to seize more land for the expansion of the Swat airport or for other purposes.

On the occasion, Ms Gul Naz highlighted the plight of over 1,500 families, who have been waiting for the return of their loved ones, who were “forcibly disappeared by security forces” around 16 years ago. “The children, wives, sisters, and mothers of these missing persons have long been waiting for their return. Many mothers and wives have lost their sight, fallen ill, or even passed away while waiting, yet their loved ones have not been returned,” she lamented.

In Khyber, as part of the proscribed PTM’s call for demonstrations in support of the final declaration during the recently-held jirga, the banned organisation’s volunteers along with local tribesmen staged a rally in Jamrud on Sunday.

The gathering, which remained peaceful, was addressed by Malak Naseer Ahmad, jirga coordinator from Khyber Barkat Afridi, Imran Afridi, Bazar Gul and Shakir Afridi.

They said every effort would be made to implement the 22-point unanimous declaration of the jirga.

In South Waziristan, a demonstration was held in Wana Rustam Bazaar on Sunday against the ‘persecution’ of Pakhtuns.

The protesters asked the federal government to take immediate measures to control the growing unrest and crimes in the area to establish lasting peace.

In Mohmand, the office-bearers of PTM Mohmand chapter and political, social workers and tribesmen held a peace march in the main Mandi Bazaar of Halimzai tehsil on Sunday.

Hundreds of youths and others participated.

The participants blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur Road for an hour.

Meanwhile, in Swabi, the police on Sunday arrested the two members of Pakhtun Qaumi Jirga (PQJ), who are also the prominent members of the banned PTM, sources said.

The arrested leaders were Khairul Amin of Karnal Sher Khan village and Arif Ali Khan of Sara Cheema. Both were shifted to central jail, Haripur.

Published in Dawn, October 21th, 2024