QUETTA: The four-day Pakhtoon Olasi Jirga held in Quetta concluded with a 15-point communique, calling for the resignation of the current government, and demanding the establishment of a national government, consisting of all political parties, for four months to organise new, fair, and transparent elections under an independent and autonomous election commission.

The jirga emphasised the need to make Pakistan a true democratic and constitutional federation.

Hundreds of people from various segments of society and different tribes attended the jirga, which was presided over by Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, the chief of Olasi Jirga. The event was also attended by Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the chairman of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of the Movement for Protection of the Constitution, and leaders of other political parties, who spoke at length over the four days.

The communique outlined that Pakistan, which is currently facing serious crises, can only find a solution through the election of a parliament that truly represents the people of the country. It called for all internal and external policies to be developed through parliament and for the Senate to be empowered based on equality among all nationalities.

It emphasised that all institutions must operate within their defined limits, and that the constitutional rights of the provinces should be recognised, including their rights over mineral resources. It also highlighted the need for education in children’s native languages.

The jirga condemned the government’s refusal to recognise and issue national identity cards to Afghans born and educated in Pakistan, whose parents have lived in the country for over 40 years. It called this decision a violation of human rights and international law, demanding that the government recognise these individuals as Pakistani citizens and issue them national identity cards.

The jirga demanded the creation of a new province named Pakhtunkhwa or Pakhtunistan, which would merge Pukhtoon areas from Balochistan, Punjab, Attock and Mianwali with the existing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The jirga rejected the elections held on Feb 8, 2024, describing them as rigged, and demanded the resignation of the government formed as a result of these elections. It called for holding new elections in the country.

The jirga called for the restoration of Pakhtun national identity cards, the lifting of the ban on student unions, and the abolition of check posts on highways, where unnecessary checks are conducted despite border checks by various agencies.

The jirga strongly opposed the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Ppeca), describing it as an infringement on the people’s right to free speech and expression, a right guaranteed by the Constitution under Article 19.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2025