October 25, 2001	Thursday	Shaba'an 7, 1422

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PESHAWAR, Oct 24: An Afghan Shoora here on Wednesday unanimously declared the former king Mohammad Zahir Shah as a symbol of unity for Afghanistan, asking him to lead a broad-based interim setup and convene a representative Loya Jirga to pave the way for lasting peace in the country.

The Shoora called for an immediate halt to the US bombings on Afghanistan, urging the international community to support the ongoing initiatives to bring peace in the war-shattered country and help Afghans reconstruct it.

The ex-monarch, despite formal invitation, did not send his delegation to the conference, which raised many an eyebrow.

Hamid Gillani, the son of Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani, while expressing concern over the absence of the former king’s delegation, told journalists: “It is amazing that all people are talking about the king, giving all-out support, but despite that his Majesty did not send his representative.”

The hall, jam-packed with delegates, resounded with such slogans as “God is Great”, “We want peace on Afghan soil”, and “No more bloodshed.”

The two-day conference is organised by Assembly for Peace and National Unity of Afghanistan (APNUA) at Nishter Hall, which has a 700-seat capacity.

Various Jihadi factions, including opposition Northern Alliance, 700 notables from 30 provinces, representing all ethnic, communal and political groups of Afghanistan, are in attendance. Elders from Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) were also invited to attend the conference.

The organisers claimed that some “good” Taliban were also attending the conference, but they did not want to disclose their identity. Former prime minister, Gulbadin Hakmetyar’s Hizb-i- Islami faction, was conspicuous by its absence.

Some diplomats and officials of the ministry of foreign affairs were also present in the conference hall, which was presided over by APNUA convener Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani.

The Pakistan government, for the first time after 1996, allowed anti-Taliban groups, including some partners of the Northern Alliance, to kick off an initiative for establishing a broad-based government in Afghanistan to be headed by former king Zahir Shah.

On the first day of the conference, speakers said that the former king was a symbol of unity for Afghanistan, who could lead the interim setup and convene a representative Loya Jirga to pull the country out of the prevailing difficult situation.

The speakers, who voiced opposition to the US bombings, said that the Afghan problem was vitiated over the years by unabated foreign interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. The Afghans could have resolved the problem long ago if they had been left to their own devices, they noted.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were the convener of the APNUA, Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani, Afghan Ulema Shoora head Maulvi Abdul Hadi Shinwari, representative of Jamiat-i-Islami Naimatullah Shehrani, representative of Itehad-i-Islami Din Mohammad Geran, Qazi Amin Weqad, representatives of Hizb-i-Wahdat (both factions), president of Jamaatud-dawa-ilal-Quran-wa-Sunnah Maulvi Samiullah Najeebullah, president of Afghan Social Democratic Party Anwarul Haq Ahadi and Mahaz-i-Mili’s engineer Ayub.

Addressing the assemblage, Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani said, “In my opinion, the former king will be elected as the chairman of that council, because of his experience and status.”

He said that few days ago he met the former king in Rome and emphasised him to play his role. He said there should be a council, headed by the former king, to act as an overseer of the interim setup for a transitory period.

The proposed council, Gillani elaborated, would comprise those personalities who enjoyed the support of the Afghans, adding that the council would elect one of its members as the chairman.

He said that the proposed interim government would execute administrative and other affairs under the supervision of the council. The interim government, he said, would draft a constitution within the framework of Islam and this constitution would pave the way for a permanent and legitimate government.

Proposing the deployment of neutral forces in Kabul, Gillani said that during his meeting with the former monarch they agreed to this proposal which envisaged deployment of Islamic countries’ forces under the umbrella of UN security Council. The peace forces, he said, should be deployed in different parts of the war-ravaged country, particularly in big cities, to maintain law and order situation.

Gillani stressed setting up of a national army and security force of Afghanistan. He appreciated the role of Pakistan and Iran and hoped that both the brotherly countries would fully back the peace process and open their borders for the displaced Afghans.