PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday decided to hold talks with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and authorised an advisory committee comprising MNAs and Senators from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas to act as jirga on its behalf.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the ‘advisory committee for redressal and development’ chaired by KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. The committee is headed by the chief minister.

Talking to reporters following the meeting, the KP government adviser on merged districts Ajmal Wazir said all MNAs and Senators from the region including two PTM leaders Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir had attended the meeting.

He said the meeting discussed the region’s issues in detail and decided to hold monthly meetings of the advisory committee.

He said the meeting authorised the committee to hold talks with the PTM and advisory committee would serve as jirga for this purpose.

He said the committee considered it necessary to engage the PTM.

Mr Wazir said that government would remove grievances of local people by carrying out development in the region and it would take place under the watch of the committee.

He said that committee members expressed their concerns regarding the number of provincial assembly seats from the region and results of population census.

He said they would strive to develop the merged districts as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and CM Mahmood Khan.

Mr Wazir said that not a single member of Levies or Khasadar force would be deprived of his job.

Talking to reporters, MNA Mohsin Dawar said they never refused to negotiate. He said they had received invitation to talks on Monday and they would hold consultation with their supporters before going into talks.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019