LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has announced to convene a jirga in Swat on Dec 8 to devise a collective strategy on the deteriorating law and order situation in the region. An announcement to this respect was made by JI chief for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North Inayatullah Khan while speaking at a news conference in Gulabad area here on Saturday. JI district chiefs, including Maulana Asadullah from Lower Dir, Sahibzada Tariqullah from Upper Dir, Sahibzada Haroon ur Rashid and Sardar Khan from Bajaur, Adenzai tehsil chief Dr Bashir and other activists were also present on the occasion. Mr Inayatullah, who is also a former senior minister, said that no one would be allowed to disturb peace in Malakand division and the merged districts of the province. Leader says jirga will be held in Swat to discuss steps for peace “The people of Malakand division will not remain silent after the Bajaur incident wherein the party leader Mohammad Hameed Sufi was gunned down on Nov 14 when he was returning home after offering evening prayers,” he said, adding that a total of 147 people, including 35 security personnel, had fallen victim to terrorism, ethnic and sectarian violence during the last one month. The JI leader said the party opposed the governor’s rule in KP even if the provincial government ‘was not’ delivering. “Every political party has the right to hold a peaceful protest. We strongly condemn firing on political workers in Islamabad,” he said, adding JI central chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had already presented the party’s stance on the matter. Mr Inayatullah said that security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deteriorating by the day. He said targeted killing and sectarian violence were rampant in the province. “In these circumstances, the provincial and central governments have a heavy responsibility to maintain peace in the province,” Inayatullah said. He said that political leaders, tribal elders, lawyers, journalists and businessmen would be invited to the Mingora jirga. He made it clear the people of Malakand division would not allow any attempt to vitiate peace in their region this time around. Replying to a question, he said that the performance of the provincial government was poor but there was no justification for imposing governor’s rule in the province. He condemned the D-Chowk tragedy and said that peaceful protest was the right of every citizen and party, and the state didn’t have the authority to fire bullets on ‘peaceful’ protesters.