MWM calls off Karachi sit-ins after rival Kurram tribes reach agreement

• MWM Chief urges govt to implement Kurram peace deal.
• Party leader Sajidi calls for normalcy in Parachinar.
• "Now ball is in govt's court,” says MWM leader.

In a sigh of relief for Karachiites, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) has called off their over week-long sit-ins in different areas of the provincial capital which is also the economic hub of the country.

In a statement issued on late Wednesday, MWM Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the peace agreement has been signed between the rival tribes of Kurram after a grand jirga was held in Kohat.

He announced ending sit-ins across the country, saying the peace agreement reached with the consent of the warring tribes. "Now ball is in government's court to implement the agreement," the MWM chief added.

The development came hours after the two warring tribes in Kurram inked a 14-point peace accord aimed at establishing peace in the district. 

Speaking to Geo News, MWM's KP chapter president Shabbir Sajidi announced that it has been decided to end sit-ins across the country except Parachinar. "The ongoing sit-in outside the Peshawar Press Club has also been ended," he noted.

Referring to the Parachinar protest, Sajidi said that the sit-in would continue until the roads are reopened in the restive territory and essential items are delivered.

He asked the government to ensure the restoration of normalcy in Parachinar as the negotiations have been completed. 

Earlier, the MWM chief linked the calling of their protest sit-ins in Karachi to the opening of roads leading to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's restive Kurram district for general traffic.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Senator Abbas blasted the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur-led provincial government — with whom the MWM is still an ally, saying: “Closure of roads leading to Parachinar is the failure of the provincial government.”

He held the KP CM responsible for the closure of the roads leading to the violence-hit district. “KP government has not cooperated [with us] so far,” he admitted.

Expressing his satisfaction over the Jirga-brokered peace agreement, the senator said that the tribal elders had fulfilled their responsibility. He hoped that the peace accord would be implemented in its true spirit.

Over 130 people have been killed in the recent deadly clashes in the country’s north-western Kurram district, Reuters reported citing District administration official Wajid Hussain.

MWM’s sit-ins continued for nine days in different parts of Karachi, the country’s economic hub, paralyzing daily life and businesses.

'Warring tribes agreed to surrender weapons'

Earlier, speaking to Geo News, Sawab Khan — who is part of the grand jirga — said that 45 people from each warring side have signed the 14-point peace agreement.

"Both sides have agreed to hand over their weapons to the government," he said, warning of the government's action if either side fails to do so. Furthermore, he said, it was decided in the agreement that all bunkers will be dismantled.

The jirga member added that a committee will be constituted within 15 days to start implementing the agreement, hoping that the situation in restive Kurram would return to normal within a month.

In response to a question, Khan said that the government would decide on the opening of the roads. “Members of Anjuman-e-Hussainia Association and members belonging to Anjuman-e-Farooqia, gave assent to the accord."

A grand peace jirga was convened at Kohat Fort to mediate talks between the warring tribes of the violence-hit district. The peace talks, held under the supervision of GOC 9 Division Major General Zulfiqar Bhatti, aimed at establish lasting peace between the warring tribes whose clashes have claimed over 130 lives since November.

Despite multiple truces announced over the past year, the issue remained unresolved, with tribal elders continuing efforts to negotiate a permanent peace agreement.