KHYBER: Political leaders on Tuesday unanimously opposed any new military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and called for restoring lasting peace in the region.

They made the demand while speaking at a condolence reference held in Landi Kotal for the slain journalist, Khalil Jibran. It was organised under the aegis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Union of Journalists in collaboration with the local press club.

The speakers emphasised the need for unity among the Pakhtuns to foil all attempts aimed at starting a new military operation on Pakhtuns’ soil as the so-called intelligence-based operations were already in progress in different parts of the province.

On the occasion, senior Jamaat-i-Islami leader Mushtaq Ahmad said that Khalil Jibran was martyred because he was speaking truth and was a peace lover. He said that he lost his life because there was no peace in the region.

“Why is the government talking of starting a new military operation when we have fenced the border with Afghanistan, which means no militant can sneak into this side of the border.” He questioned the rationale behind launching any new military offensive.

He said that the security establishment had so far conducted 21 military operations during the last 22 years but peace in the region could not be restored, which was a huge question mark on the ability of the successive governments in curbing militancy.

He said that his party was fully behind the tribal journalists in these trying times, and demanded adequate compensation for the family of Khalil Jibran.

Awami National Party’s provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Pakhtuns could no more be deceived in the name of military operations for restoration of elusive peace. He said his party would vehemently resist displacement of Pakhtuns.

He called for a change in the policy of the government towards Pakhtuns, and insisted that such an attitude was creating a gulf between them and the central government.

He alleged that the military operations were aimed at causing Pakhtuns’ displacement and occupying their natural resources.

The gathering later passed three resolutions unanimously, demanding of the Khyber police to expedite the process of investigation into the Khalil Jibran’s murder case, approval of a special grant for the family of the martyred journalist and provision of foolproof security to all the press clubs in the merged districts.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024