Protests had erupted in several parts of Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday as residents decried over up to 22 hours of daily power outages amid harsh winter conditions and snowfall.
The sit-in in the Aliabad area — the district headquarters of Hunza — caused difficulties for locals and travellers, with heavy traffic remaining suspended and an alternative route open only for light traffic. Vehicles loaded with goods imported from China via Khunjerab Pass also remained stranded at the protest venue.
A statement issued today by GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah chaired a meeting in Islamabad today, attended by the GB chief minister and chief secretary as well, that accepted the 14 demands of the protesters.
GB administration officials subsequently engaged the sit-in leaders for talks, following which the protest was called off.
Local leader Amjad Barcha told Dawn.com that the end to the sit-in was opposed by GB Assembly member Ubaidullah Baig who called for it to continue. Barcha said traffic on the KKH was subsequently restored.
Awami Workers Party leader Baba Jan, a leader of the sit-in committee, told media that the demonstration was called off on the condition that electricity be generated from Attabad Lake, electricity be brought over from the Chinese city of Kashgar and immediate electricity supply be restored via generators.
He said the additional chief secretary expressed his regret and assured that problems that inconvenienced the people would be resolved in the future. Jan warned that if action was not taken, the protesters would come out on the streets with greater intensity than before.
Jan said the sit-in’s ranks continued to swell today with more women and children participating, along with convoys from different parts of GB.
Clashes stemming from decades-old land disputes have claimed at least 130 lives since November, with food and medicine shortages reported due to weeks-long road blockades.
After months of violence, a peace agreement was signed between the warring sides on January 1. Despite a lull in fighting, the route connecting Parachinar with the rest of the province remained blocked.
However, on Jan 4, a government convoy came under attack near the Bagan area, in which the deputy commissioner of Kurram also sustained injuries. Since then, the convoy had been stranded.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that 10 of the trucks, meant for the Bagan area, had safely arrived while another convoy of 30 vehicles had arrived in Parachinar and Upper Kurram.
Barrister Saif added that the convoy left after talks with protesters from the Bagan area concluded successfully late on Tuesday.
“More convoys would also be dispatched to the restive district soon.”
He added that the government was consistently taking steps for the relief of the affected population and these convoys were a key part of those efforts.
The negotiations, in which the Grand Jirga, Kurram Peace Committee, and local peace committees played a pivotal role, led to an agreement with local protesters to remove barriers and allow the transportation of relief goods.
Saif emphasised that the restoration of peace and order in the region was a top priority for the provincial government and all necessary measures were being taken to fulfil the needs of the affected people.
Commending the cooperation of local elders in maintaining peace, Saif said that the role of jirgas and peace committees was a significant step towards long-term stability in the region. He assured that the government would further strengthen this collaboration and adopt a strategy to involve all stakeholders in the process.
Saif reassured the public that the government was not only focused on relief activities but was also making comprehensive plans for the long-term development and stability of the affected areas. He added that development could not be achieved without peace and the government was committed to ensuring complete tranquillity in the region.
On the other hand, MPA Ali Hadi said that the commissioner and regional police officer (RPO), along with the concerned authorities, fully cooperated in the departure of the first convoy.
He added that practical steps were underway on 14 more points of the agreement, including running more convoys.
Authorities have assured taking necessary steps to protect the lives and property of the people, including making roads safe, Hadi said.
Qadar Orakzai, a jirga member from Lower Kurram, told Dawn that 15 trucks meant for Upper Kurram have entered the limits of the area after passing through the lower region.
Meanwhile, Sajid Turi, another Jirga member from upper Kurram, also confirmed the development, saying that trucks meant Parachinar have entered the Alizai area.
According to the district administration, trucks of relief supplies sent by the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) were sent to the Bagan area.
The relief supplies include blankets, warm clothes, food items, and other essential items, the district administration said.
It further added that the convoy entered Kurram from the Hangutorpal check post, adding that was bound for Parachinar, Boshehra, and other areas.
KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry said the arrival of aid convoys was a significant step in the rehabilitation process,
In a statement, the chief secretary said: “This achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of the Kurram Jirga, peace committees, and people of Kurram district.
The chief secretary also appreciated the efforts of the Kurram district administration, Kohat divisional administration, police, and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in providing safe delivery of relief aid.
“Our focus remains on alleviating hardships for the people,” he stressed. “The patience and cooperation of the affected communities have been exemplary. Relief operations will continue, with all available resources being mobilised to bring stability and normalcy in the district.”
Highlighting the commitment to lasting peace, Chaudhry underscored the crucial role of public cooperation.
“Establishing law and order is our top priority. Together with the Kurram Jirga and peace committees, we are determined to thwart the efforts of those who seek to disrupt peace. Public unity is indispensable for implementing the District Kurram Peace Roadmap and paving the way for a peaceful and prosperous Kurram.”
