Ceasefire silences Kurram's deadly guns

Life returning to normal as schools start reopening; mobile services to be restored

DI KHAN:

It has been a second day in a row, and the guns remain silent in the bloodshed-prone Kurram tribal district. All reports indicate that the ceasefire, brokered over the last 48 hours, has come into effect.

Normalcy is beginning to return to the district as educational institutions reopen and mobile services are being restored.

After days of armed conflict in the tribal district of Kurram that resulted in over 131 fatalities, a complete ceasefire has been achieved following the intervention of a political jirga. Life in the district is gradually returning to normal. Educational institutions, which had been closed for more than 15 days, have reopened.

KurramDeputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud confirmed that the ceasefire is now fully in effect, thanks to the political jirga's efforts, and mobile services are also gradually being restored.

In the provincial assembly session on Monday, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch an operation to disarm the Kurram district, and dismantle bunkers in the region.

Law Minister Aftab Alam stated that an operation will be conducted to make Kurram weapon-free, and all bunkers will be demolished. He emphasised that the government will establish its authority at all costs.

During the session, opposition member Riaz Shaheen highlighted the situation in Kurram. He explained that fighting broke out in October, leading to a deterioration in law and order. "Although a ceasefire has been achieved, permanent peace is needed," he said

Shaheen added that the conflict resulted in the closure of all routes in Kurram, with women and children also being affected. "To date, over 13 people have been killed, 188 injured, and over 450 shops and 1,500 houses damaged, leaving more than 10,000 people displaced."

Speaker Babar Saleem Swati noted that the government had been instructed to form a committee. He questioned the current situation after the chief minister held a jirga.

Law Minister Aftab Alam responded, stating that steps have been taken to restore peace in Kurram.

He mentioned that he, along with the information advisor and the inspector general, held negotiations. The speaker added that the CM later visited Kohat, where leaders from the entire division were present.

The CM directed the dismantling of bunkers, but the situation has become so complex that it cannot be resolved in a single session.

He added that bunkers in Kurram will be demolished, and an operation will be conducted to confiscate weapons. "Kurram is a beautiful area, and we want to promote tourism here, attract investors, and create employment opportunities for the local people," he concluded.

Prior to this development, Chief Minister Gandapur met members of the grand jirga formed to address the Kurram issue at the CM House yesterday.

Discussions focused on initiating formal negotiations and other related matters. His adviser on information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif was also present.

The jirga members included former federal minister Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, former senators Saleh Shah and Sajad Khan, former federal minister G.G. Gulab Jamal, former K-P governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Senator Abdul Razzaq, and others.