The National Peace Coordination Council Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the nineteen-month delay in the reconstitution of peace committees, despite directives issued by the President of Pakistan in May 2024, and has appointed Aamir Zia to lead this initiative on a self-help basis.
In response to this alleged inaction, the general council of the organization, established in 1980, today unanimously elected social leader Aamir Zia as its new central secretary general, citing his social services.
Members of the council’s central cabinet, executive committee, and advisory council offered congratulations and termed his appointment an honor to lead an organization with a significant history in peace efforts.
The council’s legacy includes organizing a peace march from Mazar-e-Quaid to the Press Club on October 28, 1994. Subsequently, from 1994 to 1997, on the directives of the then President of Pakistan, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, it formed a non-political United Peace Committee, an initiative formalized under the Presidency’s control number 92/200563 and notified to all commissioners of Sindh through official orders.
According to a statement, fresh directives for the revival of these peace committees were issued by President Asif Ali Zardari in May 2024, after which the Chief Secretary of Sindh issued orders to the relevant departments. The council termed it “unfortunate” that no progress has been made since then.
Frustrated by the delay, the organization has resolved to re-establish the committees and revive the spirit of “Jihad for Peace” by proceeding under the “principle of self-help.” In its mission to ensure lasting peace, the council reiterated its long-standing position of rejecting the politics of linguistics and prejudice.
The organization also mentioned its role in continuing the tradition initiated by Shaheed Hakeem Saeed, which since 1990 has been celebrating Independence Day on the 27th of Ramadan according to the Hijri calendar.
The council’s leadership expressed hope that the newly elected central secretary general will effectively implement the organization’s manifesto. His responsibilities include striving for lasting peace, the elimination of terrorism, and to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property, the eradication of criminal elements such as drug dealers and land, tanker, and dumper mafias.