PESHAWAR / KURRAM: A Grand Jirga working towards a peace accord that would lead to the reopening of roads in restive Kurram hit a snag on Tuesday, as two representatives from Lower Kurram were not available, delaying the solemnisation of an agreement between the warring sides.
A day earlier, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, had claimed that they expected a peace accord to be signed by Tuesday.
However, speaking to Dawn on Tuesday, he said that two jirga members, representing the Sunnis of Lower Kurram, could not reach for the meeting.
Barrister Saif said that the Upper Kurram side had already signed the agreement, while both sides had also agreed to the main points of the deal. He claimed that the inking of a formal accord was a mere formality, which would be carried out once both sides met today (Wednesday).
Barrister Saif says Upper Kurram has already signed agreement, expects final deal to be formally inked today
Echoing the claim that one side had already signed the agreement, Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told Dawn that former Senator Rashid Ahmed Khan — who is one of the representatives of Lower Kurram — could not attend due to the death of a close relative.
The official said the Upper Kurram side has already signed the Kurram peace roadmap, adding that both sides would meet again on Wednesday at 11am to sign the agreement.
