In a major relief for Karachi residents, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) has decided to call off their week-long sit-ins in various parts of the city, which had disrupted daily life and business activities. This decision follows a peace agreement signed between the rival tribes of Kurram after a grand jirga held in Kohat.
MWM Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas issued a statement late Wednesday, confirming that the peace accord had been reached with the consent of the warring tribes of Kurram. “Now, the ball is in the government’s court to implement the agreement,” Abbas stated, announcing the end of the sit-ins across the country.
The decision came hours after the two Kurram tribes finalized a 14-point peace agreement aimed at restoring peace to the district. MWM’s KP chapter president Shabbir Sajidi clarified that the sit-ins across the country would end, except for the one in Parachinar. “The ongoing sit-in outside the Peshawar Press Club has been called off as well,” Sajidi told Geo News.
However, Sajidi emphasized that the sit-in in Parachinar would continue until the roads to the area were reopened and essential supplies could be delivered. He urged the government to ensure the restoration of normalcy in Parachinar, now that the negotiations had concluded.
Earlier, MWM’s protest in Karachi had been linked to the blockade of roads leading to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district. In a press conference in Islamabad, Senator Abbas criticized the provincial government led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, blaming them for the closure of roads to Parachinar. “This is a failure of the provincial government,” Abbas remarked, pointing out that the KP government had not cooperated in resolving the issue.
While expressing satisfaction with the peace agreement brokered by the jirga, Abbas noted that the tribal elders had fulfilled their responsibility and hoped the peace deal would be implemented effectively. The recent violence in Kurram district, which has seen over 130 fatalities, had prompted MWM to take action.
Details of the Peace Agreement
In an earlier interview with Geo News, Sawab Khan, a member of the grand jirga, revealed that 45 representatives from each side had signed the 14-point peace agreement. “Both sides have agreed to surrender their weapons to the government,” he explained, warning of government action if either party failed to comply. The agreement also includes the dismantling of all bunkers.
Khan added that a committee would be formed within 15 days to begin the implementation of the peace accord, with hopes that Kurram would see a return to normalcy within a month. The jirga, which was held under the supervision of Major General Zulfiqar Bhatti at Kohat Fort, was instrumental in facilitating discussions between the warring tribes. Despite multiple truces announced over the past year, the issue remained unresolved until now.
The peace talks were crucial after months of violent clashes in Kurram, which had claimed over 130 lives since November. The agreement reached by the tribal elders is seen as a hopeful step toward lasting peace in the region.
