Peshawar: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to convene a high-level “Peace Jirga” in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly aimed at developing a unanimous, cross-sectional strategy for the elimination of terrorism and the establishment of lasting peace in the province. The decision came after an important leadership meeting at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, where party elders reviewed the prevailing security situation and endorsed a broad-based consultative approach.
The meeting was chaired by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and attended by Chief Minister Suhail Afridi, provincial president Junaid Akbar, former Speaker Asad Qaiser, and other senior party leaders. Participants noted growing concerns over recent security incidents and stressed that a sustainable, locally owned peace roadmap must be crafted with the participation of traditional, political, religious and civil society stakeholders.
According to PTI officials, the proposed Peace Jirga will bring together a diverse set of figures: former chief ministers and governors of the province, senior religious scholars (ulema), respected jirga elders, representatives of civil society organizations, leaders from the legal community, and other prominent personalities. The assembly has been chosen as the venue to underline the initiative’s constitutional and inclusive character, and to facilitate an official record of recommendations that can be translated into policy.
“The goal is to arrive at a consensus on actionable measures to eradicate terrorism and to create conditions for durable peace,” a PTI spokesperson said after the meeting. “By involving community leaders, ulema and tribal elders alongside political and civic representatives, we aim to address the complex socio-economic, ideological, and security drivers of militancy in the region.”
Party leaders emphasised that the jirga’s mandate will extend beyond immediate security responses. Proposed areas for discussion include strengthening community policing, improving coordination between provincial and federal security agencies, expanding deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes, addressing unemployment and educational gaps in vulnerable districts, and developing economic incentives to marginalise violent groups. The jirga is also expected to deliberate on the role of cross-border dynamics and regional cooperation in sustaining long-term security.
Participants acknowledged the unique social structure of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — where tribal traditions, religious leadership, and local decision-making institutions carry substantial influence — and argued that any effective anti-terrorism policy must harness these indigenous mechanisms. “Security operations alone are not enough,” one senior leader said. “We must combine enforcement with reconciliation, economic opportunity, and an inclusive narrative that isolates violent actors from mainstream society.”
The proposed jirga will be convened in the KP Assembly to ensure formal engagement with elected representatives and to enable translation of the jirga’s recommendations into legislative and administrative actions. PTI sources say the party will soon announce a schedule, list of invitees, and the specific working groups that will feed evidence and proposals into the main forum. Working groups are expected to include security experts, psychologists and rehabilitation specialists, educationists, economists, and human rights advocates to ensure a balanced and multi-disciplinary approach.
Analysts observe that the PTI’s initiative comes at a politically sensitive time, when the province continues to confront episodic militant attacks even as the security environment has shown improvement over the past years. Bringing together ulema and jirga elders can help bridge gaps between state initiatives and local community dynamics, they say, but success will hinge on timely implementation of agreed recommendations and a credible follow-up mechanism.
Human rights activists and civil society organisations welcomed the idea of a broad consultation but urged the PTI to ensure transparency and inclusivity in the process. “A jirga that excludes women, minority voices, or younger stakeholders will be incomplete,” said a civil society representative. Observers also stressed the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law while designing measures to counter militancy.
