A grand jirga convened to address the ongoing situation in Kurram District concluded without a resolution on Tuesday, despite a lengthy nine-and-a-half-hour session in Kohat. The jirga, led by Kohat Commissioner Syed Motasim Billah Shah, was focused on finding a lasting solution to the unrest in the region.
The deliberations, which had already been extended once by two days at the request of one party, resumed after the expiration of that period. However, despite the intense discussions, no agreement was reached by the end of the session. The jirga was adjourned until Wednesday at 11 a.m., leaving many participants disappointed. One party involved had hoped for a formal agreement, but that expectation did not materialize.
Meanwhile, the security and humanitarian situation in Kurram remains dire. The Parachinar-Tal road has been blocked for the 85th consecutive day, severing transportation links and disrupting supply lines to Upper Kurram. This prolonged blockade has resulted in severe food shortages, exacerbating the hardships of the local population. A protest sit-in outside the Kurram Press Club entered its 12th day, with similar demonstrations taking place at four other locations. According to the Civil Society organization, at least 200 people, including 128 children, have died due to lack of medical care and facilities during the crisis.
The communication infrastructure is also severely affected, with mobile networks down and essential services such as public transportation, restaurants, businesses, and bank ATMs shuttered. Many overseas residents who returned home for the holidays are facing expired visas and travel tickets, further complicating the situation.
Locally produced goods have become prohibitively expensive, with prices for essentials such as potatoes (Rs500 per kg), onions (Rs380 per kg), and second-grade tomatoes (Rs450 per kg) soaring.
The chief imam of Parachinar has announced that the sit-in will continue until their demands are met, while protests in other districts echo the same sentiments. “If our routes remain blocked, then all routes will be blocked,” said one protest leader.
Sources from the jirga have confirmed that while one party signed off on a 14-point decision, the future of the negotiations remains uncertain, as the protests show no signs of abating.
