PESHAWAR: Elders of tribal districts in a seminar here on Wednesday expressed concern about terrorist attacks and urged the federal government to hold a meaningful dialogue with the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan for durable peace in the region.

The event was organised by the Fata Qaumi Jirga at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, where the people from all tribal districts turned up in large numbers.

Noted speakers include retired Brigadier Syed Zubair Mohmand, Malik Zardad Khan, Malik Khwedad Khan, Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi, Sher Mohammad Bajauri, Jaffar Adamkhel, Malik Shakeel Orakzai and Rahat Afridi.

They said the people of tribal districts had expected that normalcy in Afghanistan would help restore peace in Pakistan’s tribal region, but to no avail.

Basic facilities, promised uplift funds also demanded for region

The elders insisted that the country’s tribal region was comparatively peaceful before the 9/11 terrorist attacks but the situation worsened after the arrival of Nato forces in Afghanistan.

They said the people of tribal districts had attached many expectations that federal government would hold fruitful talks with Taliban at least to announce seize fire because the prolonged lawlessness had made lives of the people extremely miserable.

The elders also urged the Taliban-led Afghan government to play its role for bringing the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan to the negotiating table for ending bloodshed in the region.

They complained about poor socioeconomic conditions of tribal people and said the prolonged war on terrorism had devastated Pakistan in general and its tribal region in particular but serious efforts weren’t made to hold meaningful talks with stakeholders for durable peace.

The elders said the tribal people had faced many challenges due to the unavailability of basic facilities of life for a long time but no governments tried to address those issues for their development.

They said the people of the region were directly affected by any untoward incident in Afghanistan with the ultimate sufferers being Pakhtuns.

The speakers said they were ready to hold jirgas for stakeholders to end violence and protect people’s life.

They announced the holding of jirgas in different districts to create public awareness of the significance of peace for the region.

The elders urged the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan to announce a ceasefire at least for the

current month of fasting and Eidul Fitr to enable the faithful to participate in religious festivities fearlessly.

They also demanded of the federal government to fulfil its commitments regarding the provision of basic facilities, especially healthcare and education, to tribal districts.

They also demanded the immediate release of promised development funds to remove unrest among the local residents.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022