Kurram unrest: Jirga to resume peace talks today

PARACHINAR: Former federal minister Sajid Hussain Turi said on Monday that the grand jirga was likely to sign an agreement for restoration of lasting peace in the violence-hit Kurram tribal district today.

Turi, who is also a jirga member, said that the grand peace jirga, which was previously postponed, had been convened by the district administration at 11am in Kohat. He hoped during this meeting, a peace agreement would be signed and steps would be taken to open the main roads and ensure peace in the district.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar-Parachinar main road and routes leading to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas, remained closed for over two and a half months. The roads closure has caused a severe crisis and hardships for the residents.

Also, protests against the closure of roads are going on outside the Parachinar Press Club as well as in Sultan and Gosar areas. A protest sit-in has also been launched in Bagan in the lower part of Kurram against the damage to shops and homes in the area.

The protesters were demanding the opening of roads and aid for the affected people. However, officials of the district administration said that the roads were closed for security concerns following incidents of firing on passenger vehicles and clashes.