PESHAWAR: Speakers at a dialogue urged all segments of the society to start a peace movement that should focus all its attention on restoration of peace in the region.
The participants of the dialogue announced formation of a peace committee and convened its first meeting on April 30 wherein the prevailing law and order situation in the province would be discussed.
“We shall not hesitate from launching a long march for restoration of durable peace. If long march can be carried out for restoration of 16 judges, why not for peace,” said Abdul Latif Afridi, former president of Peshawar High Court Bar Association and a leader of Awami National Party.
Jointly organized Khyber Union of Journalists, Peshawar Press Club and Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) here on Friday, the dialogue was attended by representatives of various political, civil society, academicians, traders and other associations.
Noted among those spoke on the occasion included Abdul Latif Afridi of Awami National Party, Mukhtar Yousafzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Mukhtar Bacha of National Awami Party, Sharafat Ali Mubarak, president, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mohammad Zubair of Peshawar University Teachers Association, Rukhshanda Naz of Aurat Foundation and others.
Latif Afridi said peace was the foremost need of the people of the Pakhtun-dominated areas. “We have lost most of our land to militants. Only Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera and Peshawar out of the 24 districts are safe so far. We must have an effective line of action to save the region,” Afridi said.
The ANP leader said if the government was not sincere in restoration of peace, the people of the Frontier province should block road at Attock. Protest demonstrations should be staged in front of the offices of the security forces, he suggested.
Latif suggested that media should be the center of assembly for all the stakeholders. All the political forces should be invited to the forum. “We should demonstrate immense tolerance as the issue is faced by all,” he said.
The ANP leader said that 2.3 million people had been killed in Afghanistan, 0.8 million maimed, 0.5 million women became widows and millions of children became orphans during the prolonged Afghan war in the last three decades. “Now the same situation has been made here in NWFP and adjacent tribal areas. The Internally Displaced Persons of Swat and Bajaur at Jalozai and Katcha Garhi are presenting the same situation like Afghan refugees,” he remarked.
Said Alam Mahsud opposed the peace agreements. He said that nine agreements had been inked with the militants so far and all of them provided an opportunity to the militants to expand horizontally and vertically.
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