Zhob Jirga Announces Unity Over South Pashtunkhwa Issues

Zhob (INP): A consultative jirga was held in Zhob district as a continuation of the three-day Pashtun qaum-o-awam jirga of South Pashtunkhwa, Quetta. The jirga was presided over by Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Central Secretary of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. The jirga elected its working jirga and entrusted Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai with full authority for the appointments to the Zhob district executive council.

Hundreds of tribal and political elders, religious scholars and prominent representatives from various walks of life attended the jirga from Zhob.

Addressing the jirga, Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Central Secretary General Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal and Provincial Secretary General Kabir Afghan said that relief from the problems facing the Pashtun people was possible only through unity and harmony. They pointed to unemployment, inflation and the protection of life and property.

According to the speakers, law and order on the province’s highways has deteriorated, including the routes from Quetta to Dera Ismail Khan, Quetta to Karachi, Quetta to Sukkur, Quetta to Taftan and Quetta to Dera Ghazi Khan. They said that trade across the Durand Line has been closed, leaving people forced to go hungry, while Pashtun youth are being compelled to seek labour in their own homeland.

The speakers accused the Form 47 governments of passing resolutions to seize land and said such an attempt would not be accepted under any circumstances. They also referred to the undermining of the independence of the judiciary and the media, the ending of civilian authority and the paralysis of administrative institutions.

Concern was also expressed over the shortage of basic facilities, including electricity, gas, clean drinking water, education and health, and over the falling water table. According to the speakers, police stations in Pashtun districts are being vacated, and preparations are under way to seize the mineral wealth of the Pashtun homeland.

The jirga announced that after consultative jirgas in all districts, a organised and permanent jirga committee will be formed at the level of South Pashtunkhwa to take practical steps to press the provincial and federal governments to meet its demands. The committee will also issue decisions through the traditional jirga system to end disputes among members.

The jirga strongly demanded the early and safe recovery of Ataullah Kabzai, Malik Nasir and other abductees from Zhob.

The proceedings began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Maulvi Naseebullah, and Allama Naseem led the closing prayer. Central Secretary Abdul Haq Abdal and Manzoor Khan Achakzai, Deputy Chairman of Pishin district, also took part in the jirga. Participants thanked the organisers for the successful holding of the jirga.