PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday invited leaders of the Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) for talks on March 26.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the advisory committee for redressal and development of the merged tribal districts, chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and attended by lawmakers from the merged districts.

Briefing mediapersons following the committee meeting, adviser to chief minister on merged districts, Ajmal Wazir, said that the committee had decided to invite leaders of PTM for talks on March 26. “All committee members have signed the invitation letter to be dispatched to PTM leaders,” Mr Wazir said, adding the meeting had decided to resolve all issues faced by Pakhtuns by a jirga with the PTM leaders. The jirga is scheduled to take place at the Civil Officer Mess.

The CM’s adviser hoped that the PTM leadership would respond positively to the invitation by the KP government to help resolve all the issues through dialogue.

Responding to a question, Mr Wazir said that the committee would try to resolve the region’s issues within the bounds of constitution as demanded by the PTM.

On the occasion, MNA Munir Orazkai also asked the PTM leaders to come to the negotiating table so that region’s issues could be resolved amicably. He said that tribal lawmakers had been empowered by the government to hold talks with PTM leaders.

MNA Sajid Hussain Turi said that peace was first prerequisite to materialise dream of region’s development. He said that parliamentarians committee was fully empowered to invite the PTM leaders to talks.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2019