KHYBER: The first day of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement’s Pashtun Qaumi Jirga passed off peacefully here on Friday, with organisers anticipating a larger turnout for the second day of the three-day event.

Amid confusion about the jirga due to the previous police actions and the federal government’s ban on the rights movement, the event began on Friday in Jamrud tehsil here following an “agreement” between the provincial government and PTM late on Thursday.

A government statement revealed that the jirga would be hosted by it under the supervision of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, but neither foreign flags would be allowed to be hoisted at the jirga’s venue nor would PTM members shout any slogans against the state and its institutions, especially the Army and the Constitution.

The agreement came after a lengthymeeting between the CM-headed government team and Manzoor Pashteen-led PTM leadership in Jamrud on Thursday night at the residence of local PTI leader Ameer Mohammad.

The statement added that Ali Amin Gandapur assured the PTM delegation that he would lay all demands of the jirga before the federal government as it was his top priority to restore peace in the province.

As the jirga began at its designated venue on Friday, participants complained about poor arrangements by the PTM volunteers.

While Manzoor Pashteen was not seen all through the day, delegates from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan struggled to find a suitable place for themselves at the event and remained unaware of the first day’s agenda due to the “clueless” PTM activists.