CHITRAL: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday held a “peace jirga” here to discuss the situation emanating from the intrusion of the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban’s militants into border areas of Chitral and their attack on the check posts of security forces in Astoi and Jinjiret Koh areas.

The participants included political activists and members of other walks of life.

The jirga later issued a statement demanding of the army chief to visit Chitral to examine the situation and boost the confidence of the people and the morale of security forces.

It also called for the fencing of the region bordering Nooristan and Badakhan areas of Afghanistan.

Discusses situation after militant attack on security posts

The jirga added that the border force raised to protect the border with Afghanistan shouldn’t provide protocol to the officers of district administration.

It said the situation in villages near the border should be provided with basic facilities of life, including roads, safe drinking water, hospital and food godown, to the relief of people.

The speakers included JI district emir Maulana Jamshed Ahmed, former district nazim Maghfirat Shah, Abdul Majeed Qureshi, Ali Akbar Qazi, Sajidullah, Pir Mukhtar Ali Shah and others.

Meanwhile, district heads of different political parties addressed a news conference in the Chitral Press Club here on Thursday about the incident of militant attack on the posts of security forces and expressed their support to the Pakistan Army to defend the land.

Maulana Abdur Rehman, Abdul Wali Khan, Said Ahmad Khan, Niaz A Niazi, Sifat Zareen, Haji Eidul Hussain and others appreciated the role of security forces in Chitral to ward off terrorists from its territory.

The political leaders demanded that the maximum strength of security forces be concentrated in the borders with the Nooristan area of Afghanistan instead of posting them to the city area, where there was no danger to peace.

They asked officers of security forces and district administration to include the leaders of civil society for planning peace efforts in border areas.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2023