The three-day “Pashtun National Jirga” in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is being attended by politicians, scholars, civil society activists, women, tribal elders and others from Pakistan’s Pashtun-dominated areas to discuss issues affecting Pashtuns. And seeks solutions. The Jirga, which began on March 11, was convened by the Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNA) and said in an invitation that participants would discuss issues of insecurity in Pashtun areas, unemployment and power over its own resources.
Will the Banu Jirga be able to play its role in finding a solution to the major problems of the Pashtuns? Rafiullah Kakar, a political and regional affairs expert, says the solution to the problems requires a long struggle, of which the Banu Jirga is part. “If something comes out of this jirga that allows the political and religious parties of Pakhtun Watan to agree on a common agenda, it will be a great benefit for political action. I don’t expect much from it anymore because If there is a political process and struggle to solve national problems, then it will be solved again. ”
We cannot say that the previous jirgas have failed, but that everything is part of an ongoing process.
Dr. Darwish Upredi: The Bannu Jirga is being held at a time when jirgas have already been held in the Pashtun-dominated areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Meanwhile, Afzal Khan Lala, a former nationalist politician from Swat, started a series of national jirgas in the 1990s, and in the last three years, the Awami National Party and the Mazdoor Kasan Party have held two jirgas, but most of those meetings are decided. Does not apply.
Dr. Darwish Upredi, a professor of international relations and affairs at the University of Peshawar, said the participants in the Bannu Jirga should agree on a common approach to solving major problems. “We cannot say that the jirgas that have taken place before have failed, but that everything is part of an ongoing process. [Such meetings] are very useful. The leaders have been brought together to consult, so it is a part of the ongoing process and the benefit is [definitely] there. And there is a possibility of a joint [bill] through this Jirga. ”
Thousands of Pashtuns are gathered in the band, led by PMAP it’s signs of the bright future & good Decisions I hope this great jirga will keep the last option all terrorist acts on Pashtuns land. #PashtunNationalJirga #pashtunnationaljirga#پښتون_قامي_جرګه_بنو pic.twitter.com/w1Fo4iTwCa
— SaLaar Tareen (@SalaarTareen) March 11, 2022
Organizers of the Bannu Jirga say they have also invited Pashtun women to the meeting because, according to them, insecurity and instability in the region over the past one and a half decades have taken its toll on women. They add that traditionally women do not often attend jirgas, so they have taken the initiative to invite them to join the three-day session.
Activists from Pashtun areas have also been invited to the Bannu Jirga – March 8 photo.
Activists from Pashtun areas have also been invited to the Bannu Jirga – March 8 photo.
Nazish Muzaffar, a legal expert, and Peshawar High Court lawyer, says such jirgas are effective when women are involved in political and consultative action at the community and state level. “Women make up 52% of our population. The important thing is what do Pashtun women ask for and what do they advise in this jirga? That’s the decent thing to do, and it should end there. ” Muzaffar adds that in the traditional Pashtun society, women are excluded from political and social affairs due to which they do not have enough power and ability to decide on important issues, so it is important for women to be involved in all matters and Have a broad role to play.
Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNA) leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai told Mashal Radio on March 7 that he had handed over the agenda of the Bannu Jirga to the participants and they had the option to find a solution to the Pashtun issues to the best of their knowledge. .
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