"Do Not Force Us to Approach the International Court," PTI's Grand Jirga on Operation Azm-e-Istahkam

A grand tribal peace jirga was held in Peshawar under the auspices of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Speaking at the event, Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that the tribes were told they were free, and there was no mention of the merger of the tribes. "Do not force us to approach the international court." Asad Qaiser said that they will neither accept nor support any military operation. "We are not afraid of your sticks and batons."

The peace jirga was attended by Asad Qaiser, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Akhunzada Hussain, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and tribal members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, among others.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, head of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the opposition alliance, said in his address to the tribal peace jirga that they want to resolve all matters according to international principles. He said that their voice is censored in Parliament, and even if the cannons and bullets are aimed at them, they will still speak the truth.

He mentioned that the areas of Balochistan and Pashtunkhwa are defined in the Independent Act. Reading from the Independent Act, Achakzai said that the people living in these areas were told they would be free. The tribes were told at the time that they were free and that when India and Pakistan were established, they would then talk to them.

He said that there was no mention of the merger of the tribes. "Do not force us to approach the international court." He added that the operation is being carried out so that the people of Balochistan and Pashtunkhwa do not unite. "Now dramas are being staged to seize our resources." If there is peace here, people from all over the world, including Japan, will come here.

Achakzai further stated that they demand a fifth share in all of Pakistan's institutions. Zardari says Pakistan is necessary, but we will tell you how. "Colonel Imam used to say that we trained 90,000 of the world's most dangerous people. Baitullah Mehsud and his brother were terrorists, but what was the fault of all the Mehsuds? Were the markets and homes of the Mehsuds, Wazirs, Afridis, and Mohmands terrorists that they were destroyed?"

He said that electricity and gas are free in Afghanistan, and they will go and talk to them. "If you are here to seize our minerals, we will not tolerate it. If we come out, you will forget the way to your home."

"We will neither accept nor support any military operation," Asad Qaiser

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser said, "Tell us which operation has been successful. Our children and hands were given Kalashnikovs instead of pens. They ask for passports from the tribes; the tribal home is here, and the hujra (guest house) is in Afghanistan."

He said they will neither accept nor support any military operation. "We are not afraid of your sticks and batons."

He mentioned that until there is peace in the tribal areas, there cannot be peace in Pakistan. The business of the people of the tribal areas was with Afghanistan, and that has been shut down. The entire region had peace and prosperity, but everything was destroyed under a global conspiracy.

Address by Barrister Saif

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's spokesperson and advisor, Barrister Saif, addressed the tribal peace jirga, stating that no operation will be accepted without Imran Khan's approval. There is talk of a possible operation in the tribal areas. The minister created confusion by talking about Operation Azm-e-Istahkam. "We will not oppose operations against terrorists."

He said that if planning is being done to seize minerals and resources, they will not accept it. "We faced Russia in Afghanistan. Until our elected representatives and our government are taken into confidence, we will not allow such an operation."

He mentioned that until the details of the operation are presented to the Parliament, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not accept it. "In the area where an operation is planned, there should be no action without the consent of the local people."