Pashtun National Jirga Demands Fresh Elections, Restoration of Civil Authority in Southern Pashtunkhwa
QUETTA:** A detailed declaration issued by the three-day Pashtun National Jirga held in Quetta has called for fresh, free and transparent elections in Pakistan, restoration of civilian authority in Southern Pashtunkhwa, and the establishment of a united Pashtun province.
The jirga was convened at the invitation of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and chaired by Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai.
In its declaration, the jirga expressed deep concern over what it described as the worsening political, constitutional, democratic, security and economic situation in Southern Pashtunkhwa. It termed the February 8, 2024 elections the “biggest fraud” in the country’s history and demanded the dissolution of what it called an unelected and imposed parliament and assemblies, followed by fresh, free, transparent and impartial elections.
The jirga rejected the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments and called for an all-parties national conference to discuss the country’s major issues.
It strongly condemned the deteriorating security situation, terrorist incidents, target killings and killings of traders and civilians, alleging that armed groups were being patronized by the state. It demanded that the Frontier Corps (FC) be immediately withdrawn from all districts, highways and cities of Southern Pashtunkhwa and that civilian authority be restored.
The jirga also rejected the merger of the Levies Force with the police and demanded its immediate restoration, along with modern training and adequate resources.
It rejected what it described as illegal allocations of Pashtuns’ ancestral lands and mineral resources, as well as the transfer of 2.4 million acres of land and forests into government ownership.
The declaration also opposed amendments to the Investment Act and Mines and Minerals Act, describing them as unconstitutional and against provincial autonomy.
The jirga rejected the formation of what it called “unnatural provinces” by the Form-47 government and demanded the creation of a united Pashtun province by bringing together recognized Pashtun regions on national, linguistic, historical and geographical grounds.
It called for the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan, Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch, Noorullah Tareen, Hanif Pashtin and other political prisoners, as well as the recovery of missing persons. It also demanded an end to the policy of placing political activists on the Fourth Schedule.
The jirga rejected the merger of historic Pashtun areas of Southern Pashtunkhwa into other regions without the consent of their people. It also opposed the forced transfer and posting of government officers from Southern Pashtunkhwa to Baloch areas.
Expressing concern over the lack of clean drinking water, education, healthcare and agricultural facilities, the jirga demanded steps to address these issues.
It further called for the formation of a parliamentary inquiry commission comprising opposition members at the federal level to investigate terrorist incidents in Ziarat and the deaths of dozens of police personnel.
The jirga condemned measures allegedly being taken in the name of counterterrorism to displace people from their ancestral homes and agricultural lands.
It announced the formation of jirga committees in all districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa to undertake political and democratic resistance against what it described as state-backed unrest, robberies and proxies.
The declaration said the three-day Quetta jirga would pursue political, democratic and constitutional protests as well as negotiations with the federal and provincial governments to resolve the region’s problems.
