KEY POINTS
- The Peace Jirga brought together political parties, tribal elders, civil society and legal stakeholders to discuss provincial security and governance.
- A 37-member committee oversaw preparations, ensuring representation from both government and opposition parties.
- The joint declaration calls for inclusive decision-making on law-and-order and counter-terrorism measures.
- The federal government will be engaged to support implementation and coordination of recommendations.
ISLAMABAD: The provincial government of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province held a major Peace Jirga in Peshawar on Wednesday, convening political, tribal, and legal stakeholders to chart a consensus-based approach for restoring peace and stability in the province. A jirga a Pashto term for an assembly of elders that makes decisions by consensus.
Ahead of the session, a 37-member committee was formed to organise the Jirga, ensuring representation from both treasury and opposition benches, along with civil society and tribal elders.
Invitations were extended to party heads, former governors, chief ministers, bar association leaders, religious scholars, and tribal elders.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi emphasised that the meeting aimed to transcend partisan politics and focus on peace and public welfare.
The Jirga’s discussions centred on key concerns: the deteriorating law-and-order situation, particularly in merged districts and border areas; the role of tribal institutions, civil society, and bar associations in governance and dispute resolution; safeguarding provincial rights and resources; strengthening judicial independence and legal processes; and affirming that dialogue and consensus, rather than unilateral actions, are the path to lasting stability.
At the conclusion of the Jirga, participants agreed to draft a joint declaration to be forwarded to the federal government and security institutions, which would be incorporated into the next agenda of the national Apex Committee. Federal authorities assured their engagement with the Jirga outcomes.
Analysts say the Peace Jirga represents a shift from security-led responses to a governance- and consensus-driven model.
The broad inclusion of political parties, tribal elders, bar associations, and civil society signals an effort to strengthen provincial-federal coordination and local dispute-resolution mechanisms.
However, the impact of the Jirga will depend on the effective implementation of its recommendations, particularly in rural and merged districts where terrorists remain active.
Challenges ahead include ensuring that the joint declaration leads to tangible reforms, aligning diverse stakeholders, preventing recurrence of violence, and maintaining momentum across security operations, legal reforms, and development initiatives.
