ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement was the only non-Pakhtun party invited to a grand tribal jirga held here on Saturday.

The “70 elders jirga”, the second highest body in Pakhtun tribal hierarchy, belonging mainly to Fata organised the event.

A delegate of the jirga told Dawn that the jirga had decided to invite the MQM because it was a major political force in Karachi, the “second home of tribal people”.

“Almost half the strength of the Masood tribe and a quarter of the Turi tribe have shifted to Karachi. We are thankful to the people of Karachi for their hospitality and political openness,” said the delegate from Parachinar, Kurram Agency.

Haider Abbas Rizvi represented the Muttahida at the jirga. Addressing the participants, he said the most serious humanitarian challenge faced by the country was the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

MQM was the only non-Pakhtun party invited to the event

“The whole of Pakistan needs to understand problems being faced by the poor IDPs,” but because of internal politics they had been forgotten, he added. About 5,000 tribal elders attended the grand jirga to elect 70 delegates.

The JUI-F, which acted as facilitator of the grand jirga, had suggested the organisers to hold the event in Islamabad because it would provide them a safe venue and their voice would be heard by a larger audience.

In his speech, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticised policymakers and called for ensuring an early return of IDPs to their homes. The Maulana, who survived a suicide attack on his life last month, stopped short of naming the institution or terrorist group responsible for the law and order situation in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Resolutions adopted by the gathering called for early completion of the military operation, return of IDPs to the areas which have been cleared of terrorists, abolition of ‘action in aid of civil power regulation’, strengthening of the jirga system, a comprehensive package for medical needs of people injured during the operation, compensation to heirs of the martyrs, an early repair of damaged infrastructure, compensation for loss of property, setting up of medical, engineering and technical institutions in Fata and establishment of industrial zones to create job opportunities for the youth of Fata.

Maulana Samiul Haq of JUI-S, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Sherpao attended the grand jirga.

Published in Dawn, November 23th , 2014