Sit-in in Parachinar against road closure enters 8th day

PARACHINAR: The residents continue protest sit-in for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday demanding the reopening of main roads.

They protesters have staged a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club, calling for an end to the prolonged insecurity in Kurram district and immediate measures to ensure safe and open roads.

Addressing the protesters, the Parachinar Press Club, the speakers including Malik Zartaj Hussain and Musarrat Bangash criticised the government for failing to protect civilians and provide essential services.

“The government is supposed to provide relief to its people, especially during Ramazan, but instead, we are being left to suffer from hunger and medical shortages,” said one of the protest leaders. The blockade of roads has led to severe shortages of food and medicine, resulting in the loss of precious lives.

The protesters also demanded that the government take action against those violating the recent peace agreement, which has reportedly been breached more than 20 times. They stressed that if an agreement has been made, all roads should be secured and reopened immediately.

Meanwhile, in Lower Kurram’s Bagan area, residents have also staged a sit-in, demanding the reconstruction of the local market and legal action against those responsible for its destruction. Protestors have blocked the main highway to press their demands.

On the other hand, the district administration claims that it is actively working on implementing the peace agreement. “So far, 50percent of the illegal bunkers have been demolished, and efforts are ongoing to provide relief to the affected communities,” said an official statement.