PESHAWAR, Oct 2: Jamaat-i-Islami has convened a multi-party conference in Peshawar tomorrow (Friday) to discuss lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and viable ways and means to restore durable peace in the region.

A news release issued by Al-Markaz-i-Islami, the JI provincial secretariat, on Wednesday said various political parties and civil society groups from the province had been invited to the event, where JI provincial chief Professor Ibrahim would be in the chair.

It said Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid had agreed to attend the conference, while the decision of Pakistan Muslim League-N was awaited.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which leads the coalition government in the province, had announced to call a similar conference on the issue in Peshawar.

The JI release said a party delegation visited the ANP Central Secretariat and discussed the agenda of the conference with ANP parliamentary leader in the provincial assembly Sardar Hussain Babak.

It said Sardar Babak assured the delegation that his party would support every move meant for the restoration of peace in the province and adjoining tribal areas.

Meanwhile, JI spokesman Israrullah said APC held in Islamabad last month had given mandate to the federal government to find out peaceful solution to terrorism and begin talks with the Taliban for it.

He said unfortunately, the federal government had yet to make serious efforts for peace and that a series of suicide and bomb attacks in Peshawar, Upper Dir and parts of tribal areas had caused a serious security crisis in the province and Fata.

Mr Israrullah said the provincial political leadership should pressure the federal government and the Taliban to begin talks for early end to the bloodshed.

He said thousands of innocent people in the province had been killed or injured in the so-called war on terrorism, while economy of the province was in ruins.