Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga: Recommendation to give security leadership to police

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Aman Jirga held in Peshawar on Wednesday strongly condemned the ongoing terrorism in the province and demanded that the leadership of internal security be handed over to the police and counter-terrorism department.

Representatives of various political parties, civil society, lawyers and media participated in the jirga held in the provincial assembly.

The jirga was hosted by the provincial government, in which central and provincial leaders of all political parties were invited to deliberate on the security situation in the province and decide on an agreed course of action.

In the declaration issued at the end of the Jirga, it was said that steps should be taken in accordance with the law by taking the provincial assembly into confidence so that lasting peace can be established in the province (including the merged districts).

It has been said in the declaration that the unanimous resolutions based on law and order, which have been passed in the provincial assembly, should be implemented immediately.

The Jirga clarified that the police and counter-terrorism department would lead internal security and could constitutionally seek assistance from other agencies as needed.

The provincial government was demanded to provide special financial support to the police and CTD in the current dire situation.

The declaration recommended a coordinated policy to eliminate illegal taxation, extortion and ransom to cut off terrorist financing.

The declaration further said that the illegal mining of minerals should be stopped in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the troubled areas, while the provincial assembly should be briefed in-camera about the actions of the security agencies and their legal basis.

The declaration suggested that peace forums should be established at the provincial level with a majority of non-governmental members, including elected representatives, political parties, minorities and women to keep the assembly informed from time to time.

Similarly, city cells should be established to coordinate between the police, cantonment and local bodies at the urban level to prepare plans for the abolition of check posts in a timely manner.

The Jirga recommended constitutional amendments for stability and financial security of local governments and asked that the Provincial Finance Commission be linked with the National Finance Commission.

The declaration demanded the federation to ensure the implementation of the constitutional fiscal rights of the province such as net hydel profit, federal excise duty on oil, water share, proceeds of natural gas (Article 158), share of merged districts in NFC, implementation of 11th NFC, free drinking water and inter-provincial trade under Article 151 so as to enable supply of wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The declaration further said that the provincial assembly and the government should jointly formulate a provincial action plan while the Pak-Afghan trade corridors should be opened for all types of trade.

The Jirga also demanded from the federation to consult the provincial government and give priority to diplomacy in the formulation of Pak-Afghan foreign policy.

Finally, the Aman Jirga emphasized that the tension between the federal and provincial governments should be reduced and the meeting of the Council of Common Interests should be convened as per the constitutional period.

Regarding the proposals of the Jirga, the provincial government’s information advisor Shafi Jan told Independent Urdu that the proposals of the Jirga should be shared with the federal government and security agencies as well.

He said that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will share the declaration of Jirga with the security agencies and we want them to accept the proposals of this Jirga.

Shafiullah Jan said: ‘There is no political point-scoring in the Jirga, but the political parties included in the federation were also present and a declaration was prepared with suggestions from all the representatives, which is a good move.’

The former Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, who represented Jamaat-e-Islami in the Jirga, said that representatives of all political parties involved in the federal government came to the Jirga and it was a powerful meeting.

However, Sirajul Haque told Independent Urdu that unless the provincial, federal and establishment are on the same page to implement these suggestions, all these talks are like drawing lines on the water.

Siraj-ul-Haq said: ‘To implement these proposals, a permanent committee should be formed to talk to the central government and also monitor the decisions of the provincial government.’

In the past, various political parties had called all-party conferences and jirgas, in which the last attempt was made by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi by organizing a jirga in June this year.

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling party of the province, did not participate in this Jirga.