DLP Report
KOHAT
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, has said that sustainable and lasting peace in any region is only possible through the sincerity, hard work, and mutual cooperation of its people. Speaking at a Grand Divisional Peace Jirga held at Kohat Police Club on Tuesday, he emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue and trust-building among all stakeholders to ensure enduring peace.
The jirga was convened in preparation for the upcoming month of Muharram to promote harmony and tolerance. It was attended by Provincial Law Minister Iftikhar Alam Advocate, Members of the National Assembly Shehryar Afridi, Hameed Hussain, and Yousaf Khan, Members of the Provincial Assembly Shafi Jan, Aurangzeb Orakzai, and Ali Hadi, Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed, Commissioner Kohat Division Syed Mutasim Billah Shah, DIG Kohat Abbas Majeed Marwat, former Chief Justice Syed Ibn Ali, and prominent scholars and elders from both Sunni and Shia communities.
Also present at the event were GOC 9 Division Kohat Major General Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Deputy Commissioners and District Police Officers of Kohat, Kurram, Orakzai, and Hangu, along with religious leaders and community elders.
The Chief Secretary noted with appreciation that elected representatives and community leaders were united in their message of solidarity, adding that such sentiments of patriotism must also be instilled in the youth.
“We must remind our younger generation that we are all Muslims and brothers; there is no room for division among us,” he said.
Highlighting the regional and global situation, Shahab Ali Shah warned of external threats aimed at destabilizing the country from within. “Our enemy cannot defeat us militarily, but it continues its efforts to weaken us internally,” he said, pointing specifically to the involvement of the Indian intelligence agency RAW in fomenting sectarian divisions.
He strongly denounced the use of violence in the name of religion, stating, “When we all share the same faith, there is absolutely no justification for taking up arms against one another.”
Regarding the situation in Kurram district, the Chief Secretary shared that peace is gradually being restored and expressed hope that the main highway would soon be reopened for public traffic. He urged locals to expedite the voluntary surrender of illegal arms, warning that failure to do so would result in confiscation by the state.
Expressing optimism for the upcoming holy month, Shahab Ali Shah said he hoped that, as in the past, both Sunni and Shia communities would observe Muharram with mutual respect and brotherhood. “God willing, not only Muharram but every coming month will pass peacefully, and our enemies will never succeed in their malicious designs,” he concluded.
