BAJAUR: The much-publicised protest sit-in for lasting peace in the district, scheduled for June 6, was postponed by the leaders of the Bajaur Aman Jirga here on Tuesday. The Bajaur Aman Jirga, a body comprising political and social figures as well as local elders striving for peace and stability in the district, had announced on May 13 that it would stage a protest sit-in from June 6 to demand durable peace.

However, the decision to postpone the event was taken during a meeting of the jirga leaders held at the district administration’s jirga hall in Civil Colony, Khar, on Tuesday.

The meeting, chaired by Bajaur Aman Jirga chief Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, was attended by senior political and social figures and local elders.

Among those present were Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Maulana Waheed Gul, former Nawagai tehsil council chairman and senior PTI leader Dr Khalilur Rahman, PML-N district president Malik Gul Kareem Khan, senior party leader Mian Muhammad Ismail, PTI leader Luqman Khan, Mamund chief Malik Muhammad Ayaz Khan, Malik Hifzur Rahman and Malik Muhammad Yar.

The participants deliberated on whether the sit-in should be held on the scheduled date or postponed to ensure better participation.

Many speakers stressed that the protest sit-in was essential to press the authorities concerned to take effective measures for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the district.

However, several participants including senior jirga leaders argued that the event should be postponed until preparations were completed and wider support had been secured.

Some participants also proposed taking political and social leaders as well as elders from other tribal districts into confidence to make the protest more effective and result-oriented.

After several hours of discussion, the participants unanimously agreed to postpone the sit-in for some time to allow the jirga leaders to engage with stakeholders from other tribal districts and strengthen the proposed movement.

Later, briefing journalists about the decision, Dr Khalilur Rahman said the meeting had unanimously decided to postpone the June 6 sit-in.

Without announcing a new date, he said the decision was taken to bring political and social leaders and elders from all merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on board, as deteriorating law and order and insecurity were common issues affecting the entire region.

He said an organising committee had been formed comprising several members to contact political and social leaders and elders across the merged districts and seek their participation in the protest campaign.

Accompanied by senior Jirga leaders including Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, Dr Rahman said the committee would propose a new date for the sit-in after completing consultations with stakeholders from across the tribal districts with the aim of making the event more effective.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026