GILGIT, Jan 31: The grand peace jirga has postponed its public gathering in Gilgit that was due to be held on Tuesday in connection with furthering peace efforts in the city.

Sources said that all the arrangements were finalized for the gathering, that was to be addressed by members of the peace jirga, but was delayed due to Muharram. The sources told Dawn that the gathering was about to take people into confidence on reopening of two central mosques before start of Muharram. The mosques were sealed by the authorities on October 15 last year due to ethnic tension in the area.

They did not indicate new date for the public gathering but said that since Muharram programmes had already started, it would be useless put forth a demand for reopening of the sealed mosques.