Peshawar, Dec 5: On Thursday, a meeting was held with local council leaders and the administration, where it was decided to prohibit rallies or protests in the neighboring districts of Kurram amid expectations of a sustainable ceasefire agreement in Kohat division of northwest Pakistan, as reported by officials.
Sectarian clashes in Kurram, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have led to the loss of 133 lives from November 21 to December 2.
The grand jirga and peace committee meeting resulted in a complete ban on rallies in Hangu, Kohat, and Orakzai districts, officials stated. A ceasefire agreement has been in effect in Kurram since December 2, which prohibits rallies and protests, with no reported incidents of violence since then.
Following guidance from the province’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, the Kohat Division Commissioner, Moatasim Billah, along with deputy commissioners and district police officers from Hangu and Orakzai, engaged in thorough discussions with members of the grand jirga (tribal leaders’ council) and the Kohat division peace committee.
Furthermore, it was resolved that no protests would take place on the Tall-Kohat road going forward.
The conflicts between Alizai and Bagan tribes began on November 22, triggered by an attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar, resulting in 47 fatalities the day prior.
Several severely injured passengers later succumbed, escalating the toll to 57 from the convoy incident.
The dialogue among grand jirga members and the Kohat division peace committee is anticipated to help reach a sustainable ceasefire agreement in Kohat shortly and facilitate a permanent resolution through cooperative communication.
A unanimous decision was made to prevent any future protests on the Tall-Kohat road, with potential legal repercussions for offenders, as enforced by the police.
The grand jirga remains in contact with both parties involved in the Kurram conflict and emphasized the importance of adhering to the ceasefire terms, as reported by officials.
Earlier this week, a ceasefire agreement was successfully established between two conflicting tribes in the unstable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. (PTI)
