LOWER DIR: People from different walks of life, including political, social activists, traders and lawyers, on Tuesday opposed the proposed military operation – Azm-i-Istehkam – in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and demanded of the government to take concrete steps for stopping infiltration of militants from across the border.

They made the demand during a jirga arranged by the Dir Qaumi Pasoon (DQP), a citizens’ body working for bringing lasting peace to the district.

DQP chief Malik Jehan Alam chaired the meeting.

Dir Qaumi Jirga president and former MNA Sahibzada Mohammad Yaqub Khan, PML-N former provincial minister Malik Jehan Zeb Khan, its district president Malik Farooq Iqbal, former senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, PTI activist Ali Shah Mishwani, ANP provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, former MPA Haji Bahadur Khan, Malik Mohammad Zeb from ANP, JUI-F district chief Sirajuddin, PTI-P leader and former provincial minister Muzaffar Syed Advocate, PPP Lower Dir president and former provincial minister Mahmood Zeb Khan, its district secretary information Alamzeb Advocate, JI district general secretary Eng Yaqoob ur Rahman, president Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara Anwaruddin, vice-president Talash Dushkhel Qaumi Jirga Aftab Alam, members from civil society and lawyers attended the event.

Asks govt to stop militants’ infiltration from across border

A joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the Dir Amn Jirga demanded of the government to avoid launching any operation in the area as the people of Dir were loyal and patriotic citizens.

They said instead the government should take measures to stop infiltration by militants from Afghanistan.

The jirga also condemned the federal and provincial governments for giving assent to launching military operations in Dir, making it clear that the district was peaceful, and its people were already reeling from the hardships of 2009-10 mass displacement as a result of a military operation.

The participants expressed anger over the meaningful silence of the elected representatives from Dir, and demanded of them to raise their voice on the assembly’s floor.

They said giving approval to launching of a military operation in Dir by the federal apex committee in the presence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was a real contempt of the mandate of the people of Dir.

The jirga decided that people of Dir would extend cooperation and all-out support to the government and its institutions, but they would not form any Amn Lashkar.

The speakers condemned the killing of Sheikh Inamullah, and attacks on security forces in Maidan area, and termed it a bid to sabotage peace.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024