Grand Peace Jirga resumes negotiations to bring peace in Kurram

PARACHINAR: The sit-in protest against road closures in Parachinar spread to more areas on Thursday as the Grand Peace Jirga resumed negotiations in Kohat and progress was expected today (Friday).

Despite the severe cold, people of all ages, including young children were participating in the protest in Parachinar to call for reopening of the roads in the restive Kurram shut for almost 80 days. Tribes from Sultan, Gosaard, Chinarabad, and other areas initiated protests as well against road closures. Tehsil Chairman Agha Mazamil Hussain said a large number of people were participating in sit-ins at various locations.

He said he had conveyed to the media that 100 children had died due to a lack of medical treatment.

The LG representative said the latest statistics showed that the death toll of children had risen to 120. Agha Mazamil Hussain lamented that instead of ensuring the safety of life and property of the citizens, and providing food and medicine to people, the government was issuing statements to deny the deaths of the children.

A social activist, Asadullah, said the road closures had caused a shortage of daily necessities, food items, medicines, oil and gas. “The roads should be reopened and made secure”, he demanded.

Meanwhile, the district administration confirmed that talks for peace in Kurram had resumed in Kohat.

“Progress is expected in the Grand Peace Jirga scheduled for tomorrow [Friday], said an official of the district administration.