The Grand Peace Jirga: A sign of hope

The Second World War was a complete disaster. When all hopes had been lost, the United Nations emerged out of the rabble, with the objective of improving harmony and peace. While some might, rightly, ridicule the UN for its ineptness in the Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan crisis, it definitely has played a very constructive role in the development of the third world. Our government, in Pakistan, came out of its slumber and felt the need for establishing a disaster relief agency, after the Earth Quake of October the 8, last year, had jolted Kashmir and related regions.

Civil Whispers

Noon. Meem. Aazur

gulmitwala@gmail.com

The same thing has happened with us in Gilgit. After the butchery that resulted from the January eighth killing of Agha Zia Udin Rizvi, finally a civil society organ, called the Peace Jirga is shaping up. We have always needed a disaster, a mighty jolt, to realize our short comings. The massacre of more than ninety people by a mob of trained to plunder terrorists, totting their machines in the air and burning people alive brought us out of the impression that the government can bring peace in the region.

Governments have often failed in providing peace and security to the northern areas. They, definitely, have jeopardized our integrity, as in the Kargil misadventure, time and again. The 1988 massacre was not an exception. Many accuse the government of giving strategic support for the Qabailies, who had to quench their thirst for blood. Their victory in Afghanistan had made them more ravenous, more brutal. Jalal Abad would always be remembered as a sign of the incompetence or vulnerability of the state and the government. Who is to protect us when the government is either the perpetrator of evil, or the sleeping toothless lion?

“Governments often fail because we invest too much hope in their hollow, political promises”, a wise international figure said, recently. He rightly pointed out that in the developed countries strong civil society organs have played very active role. What he meant to tell us is that we have to build strong civil society organizations in order to face the hardships, curve out solutions and flourish the golden principle of peaceful coexistence.

The grand peace Jirga is a very important civil society organ. We need to strengthen it to avoid future conflicts. It is encouraging that the present embryonic Jirga is doing very well to nurture the feelings of tolerance, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. What was put on flare by the heavy machine guns of the forces has been normalized by the silent, not-showy, and sustained peace efforts of the peace Jirga. Malik Miskin,, Hussain Shah, both veteran politicians and representing the, unfortunately, rival sects have rendered invaluable services for peace. There, nevertheless, are some important steps that they need to take in order to strengthen the peace Jirga. That the Ismailies and Noor Bukhshies have yet to be brought into the peace mainstream is worrying. More delay might give many undesirable meanings to the efforts of Jirga. The Jirga should be made more representing and more focused in its objectives.

Peace is important because we cannot afford to be on war, while the world is progressing at an astonishing pace. The regional developments, future expectations and emerging opportunities are bound to bring economic prosperity to our region. But, definitely, investment needs a congenial and conducive peaceful environment. We hope that the leaders of the peace Jirga realize the importance and scope of their task and are ready to avoid future mishaps.