PESHAWAR: Qaumi Amn Jirga, a group of political parties, has postponed its Islamabad long march scheduled for Aug 23.

Speaking at a press conference at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Monday, Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (chapter) president Mian Iftikhar Hussain announced that the Islamabad peace march had been post-poned due to the recent noods and the party`s focus on providing relief to the affected people.

The parties have decided to prioritise flood relief efforts and postpone the peace march tofocus on helpingthe affected people.

The march was postponed for indefinite period so that workers of all political parties could focus on the relief activitiesin relevant areas.

The scheduled march, he said, was aimed at conveyingthe message that Pakhtuns always advocated peace and would stand against any force that ever tried to plunge the region into bloodshed again.

`The floods have caused widespread destruction, and the situation is dire in many areas.

The government needs to take immediate action to provide relief and support to the affected areas,` Mr Hussain, who is also provincial president of the Qaumi Amn Jirga, said.Accompanied by representatives of different political parties including Akhunzada Chattan of Pakistan people`s Party, Maulana Abdul Jalil of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Khizer Hayat of Pakistan Muslim League-N and others, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said it was need of the hour to fully support the people in floods-hit areas.

He said that the destruction caused by the floods was unimaginable, and it`s only by visiting the affected areas that onecould understand the true extent of damage.

He demanded of the government to take immediate action to provide relief and support to the affected areas. He also urged all the political parties, media, and social welfare organisations to provide immediate relief to the affected areas.

`Our party believes in serving humanity and will continue to do so in the face of natural disasters and other challenges, he said.