Govt ready to rescind ban on PTM: report

‘PTM leadership will be allowed to hold jirga’

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi pictured during the jirga

IN a move aimed at removing misgivings between federal government and the rather controversial Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), the former has agreed in principle to lift a ban on the latter, according to daily Dawn.

The positive development came during a grand jirga hosted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which was attended by multiple parties, including representatives of the federal government.

Quoting sources, the reputed newspaper reported that because a certain procedure has to be followed to revoke a ban, the notification about the restrictions would temporarily be “held in abeyance”.

PTM would be allowed to hold a grand jirga which is expected to be chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, according to the sources.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly endorsed the idea of holding talks with the PTM to sort out some controversial issues. The proposed jirga will be attended, among others, by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, members of the legislature and MNAs from both treasury and opposition benches.

One of the sources told the daily: “The KP government will be hosting the PTM’s jirga and will make the necessary arrangements, but with certain conditions. There will be no inflammatory slogans during the PTM’s jirga, nor will anyone bring the Afghan national flag.” He said the conditions would be conveyed to the PTM leadership soon.

The PTM has yet to comment on any of the proposals.