Kurram crisis: Progress made in grand Jirga

A grand peace Jirga in Kohat has made significant progress for the peaceful resolution of the dispute between two tribes in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Negotiations have been going on for two months at Kohat Fort under the supervision of GOC 9 Division Major General Zulfiqar Bhatti.

Kohat Commissioner Matsim Billah Shah, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abbas Majeed Marwat and Deputy Commissioners of Kohat, Hangu and Kurram are also participating in the Jirga.

The agreement between the parties was almost finalized at the grand Jirga, according to which both sides have agreed to give heavy weapons to the government.

Now sources have claimed that Mushrans have signed agreement, while, some people parties will sign today with announcement expected today at the Commissioner Kohat office.

Violence-hit Kurram district has seen an increase in tribal clashes, resulting in more than 130 deaths since November.

Despite a series of ceasefires announced over the past year, the issue remains unresolved, with elders on both sides trying to negotiate a lasting peace deal.

According to reports, more than 100 more children are feared to die due to acute shortage of medicines, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif denied these claims.

The recent clashes have triggered a humanitarian crisis, with supplies of medicines and oxygen depleted, exacerbated by the closure of the main highway connecting Parachinar to Peshawar.

In addition to the nine-day sit-in at Parachinar Press Club, protests have also started in Karachi due to the closure of roads in the district, which has entered the third day today.

Protests by Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) are going on at more than 10 places across the city.

Amid efforts to restore peace, the KP government has declared Kurram district a “disaster-hit”. Authorities have airlifted medical supplies to the area and evacuated those in dire need.

KP’s Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali said that medicines are continuously being provided to health centers in Kurram and more than 16,000 patients are undergoing treatment at Parachinar DHQ since December 13. He assured that the supply of medicines would continue till access to roads is fully restored.

Peace talks are underway with the cooperation of the Pakistan Army, in which tribal elders including Pir Haider, Haji Noor Jaff and Inayat Hussain Tori are going on.

The final decision of the jirga is expected to be announced at the Kohat Commissioner’s office and the Kohat Parachinar Road is likely to be declared safe for commuters once the agreement is formalised.

Renowned religious scholar Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi will reach Kohat from Karachi. He plans to visit the Kacha Paka camp to meet with kurram affected people and participate in the ongoing peace talks.