KABUL - The ‘Peace and Moderation’ electoral team led by Mohammad Hanif Atmar on Sunday said the Consultative Loya Jirga on peace was being organized without consulting major political parties and movements, claiming the jirga’s organizers acted on orders from the government.
A statement from the former National Security Advisor (NSA) media office received by Pajhwok Afghan News said the Grand Jirga’s agenda was not clear and was being convened without consulting major political and national movements.
It added jirgas had a history resolving Afghanistan’s issues, but the upcoming event acted more on orders from the unity government than trying to end the ongoing conflict in the country.
The statement said the aim of the Consultative Jirga was not yet known to political parties and people of Afghanistan. It added the commission responsible for organizing the jirga was also not inclusive, national and acceptable because its members had been selected by the government.
“It’s every Afghan’s job including the government to work for lasting peace in the country instead of complicating the situation,” the statement said.
Earlier in the day, a former Wolesi Jirga member and founder of the Mawj-i-Tahawal Afghanistan termed the Consultative Loya Jirga ‘an extravagant election campaign’ and against the country’s interest.
She told a press conference in Kabul that in a country like Afghanistan where above 50 percent of people lived under the poverty line, the arrangement of a costly jirga was unfair.
She suggested the money allocated for the event should be distributed among unfortunate people.
Some two thousand people are invited to attend the Consultative Peace Jirga scheduled for April 29 to represent political parties, civil society, tribal elders, and members of parliament. (Pajhwok)