Bannu Grand Jirga Sets Deadline for Reopening Roads, Warns of Peace March After Eid

by: Abdus salam Baitab

Bannu: The Grand Jirga of the tribes of Bannu has given the administration and the government a final deadline to reopen all closed roads, withdraw all alleged false cases against Samad Lala, and ensure the establishment of peace in Bannu. It was also announced that if the demands are not accepted, a Peace March and a sit-in (protest) will be held after Eid. The participants questioned that if there was no intention to open the road, then why were millions of rupees spent on its construction.
It was also decided that after Eid, consultations will be held with religious scholars, the lawyers’ community, trader organizations, local bodies’ representatives, and students regarding participation in the Peace March.
According to details, the Grand Jirga of the tribes of Bannu was held at the Jamaat-e-Islami center under the chairmanship of Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. Representatives and elders from different areas of Bannu participated in the jirga.
Among those who addressed the jirga were Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Shaukat Ayaz Advocate, Pir Dr. Sahib Zaman, Sahibzada Idris, Mian Mehfooz-ur-Rehman, Farmanullah Mirakhel, Naseer Ali Shah, Jamshed Khan, Nasir Bangash, Mufti Arifullah, Malik Nazir Khan, Malik Gul Bahadur Khan, Malik Saleem-ur-Rehman, Malik Yusuf Khan, Malik Umar Khattab Khan, Malik Iqbal Jadoon, Maulana Tayyab Shah Bukhari, Malik Hikmat Yar Khan, Malik Sherdar Ali Khan, Malik Hashmatullah, Mameezullah Jehad Yar, Mayor Irfan Durrani, Malik Gul Bahadur, Haji Ismatullah Amandi, Malik Syed Kamal Shah, Khalid Riaz, Malik Nek Daraz Khan, Pir Syed Ali Shah, Malik Hayat Mandan and others.
The speakers said that the people of Bannu are fed up with the current situation. The law and order situation is going out of control, roads are closed, and incidents of target killing are on the rise. They said that the government has allegedly registered false cases against a prominent leader of Aman Pasoon, Haji Abdul Samad, and imprisoned him in jails in Sindh, questioning how this could be considered justice.
They further said that roads, which are considered the first step toward development, have been closed under the pretext of security, causing severe mental stress among the public and difficulties for traders. The speakers asked that if there was no intention to open the Miranshah Road, why were millions of rupees spent on its construction.
The speakers demanded that the government, institutions, and administration should immediately reopen not just one but all closed roads. They also demanded that all alleged false cases against Samad Lala be withdrawn and that he be immediately transferred from Sindh to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Similarly, they demanded that immediate funds be provided for the rehabilitation of the victims of the Kot Barara explosions.
On this occasion, it was unanimously decided that if all their demands are not accepted before Eid, a Peace March will be organized immediately after Eid on 27 March. Religious scholars, traders, lawyers, the transport community, students, and chairmen and councilors of village councils will be contacted for participation. If the government fails to give a positive response, a sit-in protest will be held and will continue until their demands are fulfilled.