ISLAMABAD: Relief still eludes Karachiites as Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Wednesday announced that they would only call off their protest after the roads leading to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s restive Kurram district are opened for general traffic.
His remarks came shortly after the two warring tribes in Kurram have inked a 14-point peace accord aimed at establishing peace in district.
Contrary to the expectations, the MWM’s fresh move raised many eyebrows in Karachi, the country’s economic hub, where the party’s sit-ins continue to disrupt life and business for the ninth consecutive day today.
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.
The MWM chief said that their sit-ins were not against any party.
In November last year, at least 42 people were killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on pas-senger vehicles in the Ochat area of Kurram district.
Meanwhile, the politico-religious party announced that a convoy of trucks carrying food items would leave for Kurram tomorrow, adding that they would end their protest if the convoy reached its desti-nation.
Currently, MWM is staging sit-ins at four different locations of the metropolis — Numaish Chowrangi, Abul Hassan Isfahani Road, Water Pump and Kamran Chowrangi, said a spokesperson of the traffic po-lice.
Giving further details, the spokesperson said that the road leading to Mosmiat (Met Office) from Kamran Chowrangi was closed to traffic.
Meanwhile, different sections of roads including Numaish Chowrangi-Guru Mandar and Incholi Socie-ty-Water Pump were also closed due to the sit-ins, the traffic police added.
On the other hand, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) is staging demonstrations at Shershah, Orangi Town and Mosmiat, said the spokesperson. –Agencies
