–Senate Special Committee agreeing with PTM demands calls for prompt solution
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has urged the lawmakers to play their role in the formation of a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ in addition to clearing up landmines and recovery of missing persons belonging to the tribal districts.
He made this statement during a meeting a special Senate committee formed to address the problems of the aggrieved sections of the society.
The meeting was chaired by Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif and was attended by PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen, MNA Mohsin Dawar and the movement’s other representatives.
Senators Dr Jahanzaib Jamaldini, Sitara Ayaz , Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Sajjad Hussain Turi, Hidayatullah, Dilawar Khan, Fida Muhammad, Naseebullah Bazai, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Sameena Saeed, Khanzada Khan, Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, Pir Sabir Shah, and Mushahidullah Khan were also in attendance.
PTM co-founder Manzoor Pashteen “posed complete confidence in the Senate Special Committee and appreciated its suggestions for resolving the issues”.
“The members of the Special Committee, agreeing with the demands of the PTM, called for their prompt solution,” the statement added.
The members termed the meeting “a historic day” and reiterated that “the process of dialogue would continue”.
“It was the very first formal historic meeting between the Senate members which lasted for three hours where both the parties openly expressed their views over a series of issues,” said a statement issued by the Senate Secretariat.
The senators demanded the PTM to nominate a focal person for meetings with the representatives and present their demands in writing to the committee.
The PTM formed in the aftermath of the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud demanded penalisation of Rao Anwar, recovery of FATA’s missing persons, probe into extra-judicial killings of Pashtuns all over the country, and end to discrimination meted out to tribal people in addition to a formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.