Peshawar Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Dr Saif has stated that one side of the warring factions in Kurram has signed the agreement, while the other is expected to put pen to paper on Tuesday (today).
The roads in Kurram will remain closed until both parties sign the agreement. "Federal Minister Ata Tarar's allegations against the provincial government are baseless. He receives salaries from multiple sources, and there is no truth to the allegations made against the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government."
He added that Tarar should do some research instead of making baseless claims.
While speaking to the media at the Peshawar Press Club, Barrister Saif stated that the provincial government is serious about resolving the ongoing conflict between the two factions in Kurram.
"The situation in Kurram had worsened recently, and after this incident, the provincial government took immediate action. The first step was to establish a ceasefire between the two parties."
He added the provincial government aims to find a permanent solution to the issue with the help of local elders. It was decided to create a grand Jirga consisting of elders to resolve this 130-year-old issue.
One party initially requested more time, but now they have signed. The second party has requested two more days, and they will sit in the Jirga at 11 am today.
Dr Saif further stressed that decisions of the Apex Committee will be implemented, including the collection of weapons and demolition of bunkers.
"The roads will not be reopened until the agreement is finalised. The provincial government hopes to resolve the issue soon, and they have been in contact with both parties." The CM's adviser continued that discussions are ongoing, and both sides are in agreement over a settlement.
"The claim that Kurram is being emptied to settle terrorists is untrue. People used to take the Pak-Afghan border route when Kurram's roads were closed, but now those rwoutes are also closed, causing hardship for the locals."
Prior to this, Dr Saif criticised Federal Minister Ata Tarar, saying that his daily comments "expose his incompetence". "Just the day before, he mocked the economists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when discussing the provincial economy. Ata Tarar copied the federal government's white paper and put it under Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's account," he quipped.
Dr Saif clarified that the province's total debt is Rs725 billion, which is negligible compared to the federal debt. "The total national debt has increased by 27 trillion rupees in two years under Shehbaz Sharif's government, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's debt has also risen due to federal mismanagement.
Dr Saif also pointed out that Ata Tarar is holding two jobs simultaneously, covering up the incompetencies of Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz.
"The recent claims regarding actions against journalists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were absurd, as journalists in Islamabad aren't even safe. The journalist community is being persecuted under the fake government, leading many to seek refuge abroad."
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