The jirga has reiterated its opposition to the proposed military operation in Janikhel, Bakkakhel and other parts of Bannu district and has urged the government to find an alternative solution to the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
The jirga was held at a seminary at Parati Gate in Bannu town on Saturday to discuss the law and order situation and the announcement by the Provincial High Committee to launch operations against terrorists in Janikhel town.
Jamaat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa South emir Mohammad Ibrahim, MNA Maulana Naseem Ali Shah, MPA Adnan Khan Wazir, Malik Hikmatyar Khan, Malik Naimat Ali Khan, Taimur Baz Khan, Malik Rahat Khan, Nasar Khan Bangash, Shah Abdul Sad Khan, and Other elders, business leaders and civil society members participated.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the JI leader announced the joint statement, asking the government to implement the 16-point demands of the jirga, which he said had also been approved by the Supreme Court.
The fourth schedule calls for the removal of elders, traders
He demanded that the decision to launch a military operation in Janikal town in the district should be withdrawn, the dismissed police officers should be reinstated and the names of elders and traders should be removed from the Fourth Schedule.
Mr. Ibrahim urged the government to order the reopening of roads and arteries closed by local authorities for security reasons and to take elected representatives from the district before taking decisions on the launch of operations, road closures and suspension of internet services.
“The Jirga will not accept any unilateral decision taken in this regard,” he said, adding that the involvement of MPs in such decisions would help restore public confidence in the security forces and other law enforcement agencies.
The JI leader said the jirga would formulate further action if the government failed to meet its demands.
On the same day, a key jirga member, Abdul Samad Khan, was arrested by the police while returning to his village after attending the meeting.
Political and civil society activists condemned his arrest, calling it a disrespect to the jirga.
Mohammad Ibrahim of the Jamaat demanded his immediate release and condemned the arrest of the ‘peace movement’ while he was on his way to his village after attending the jirga meeting.
Mr. Ibrahim said that by including Mr. Samad and other leaders in the fourth schedule, the government is depriving them of their basic rights.
Bannu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Nasser Khan Bangash said Abdul Samad Khan always spoke for peace and against violence.
He said when the banned Pashtun Tahffuz movement organized a jirga in the tribal district two months ago, the Khyber police had falsely booked the jirga member.
Advocate Mureed Hayat, an elder, urged the local police to hand over the arrested leader to the Khyber police so that they can launch a legal battle for his release.
