Islamabad: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government will resume talks today, Thursday, in a bid to break political tensions in the country. 

The government and PTI held the first round of formal negotiations on Dec. 23, with the PTI asked to present its demands in writing on Jan. 2. Khan previously rejected talks with the government, saying his party would only talk to the “real powerbrokers” in Pakistan, the all-powerful army. 

However, last month he set up a negotiating committee of top party members to open a dialogue with the government for the fulfilment of two demands: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024, which the government says involved his party supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.

Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since the PTI founder was jailed in August last year on corruption and other charges and remains behind bars. His party and supporters have regularly held protests calling for his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.

“We doubt their intentions and we think they are just trying to buy time,” Meher Bano Qureshi, a PTI leader, told a private news channel on Wednesday. “But still we are talking to them with an open heart and very seriously.”

The talks opened days after Khan threatened a civil disobedience movement and amid growing concerns he may face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9, 2023, protests.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who took part in the negotiations last month, said on Dec. 23 that the first round of talks were held in a “cordial” environment, calling them vital to end “political polarization” in the country.

“The opposition will also present a charter of demands in the meeting,” he said. 

Khan’s close aide, Asad Qaiser, told reporters that the PTI team had asked the government to release all political prisoners, including the former prime minister, and form a judicial commission, comprising senior Supreme Court judges, to probe the May 9 and Nov. 26 protests.

PESHAWAR: Warring tribes in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram district, where tribal and sectarian clashes since November have claimed over 130 lives, signed a peace agreement on Wednesday agreeing to surrender their weapons to the provincial government and dismantle bunkers in the area, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government official confirmed.

Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in KP, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 when gunmen attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52. The attack sparked further violence and road closures in the district and its capital Parachinar, restricting access to medicine, food and fuel in the area as casualties surged to 136.

A grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders formed by the provincial government this month, has been attempting since weeks to mediate between the rival Sunni and Shia factions and broker a peace agreement.

“Both sides have agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons,” KP government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif said in a statement. “We congratulate the people of Kurram on the signing of the peace agreement, which will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in Kurram.”

Saif said the signing of the agreement will ensure that normal life will be “fully restored” in the district.

According to a copy of the agreement seen by Arab News, members of the jirga and elders of both warring tribes, in the presence of district officials, agreed that all parties would abide by the agreement.

“After the signing of this agreement, the parties will not use weapons against each other,” the agreement reads. “In case of violation, the government will take action with the cooperation of the peace committee against the village or area [that violates the agreement.]”

The agreement said that people will not be allowed to display light and heavy weapons in the district, adding that there will also be a ban on collecting donations to buy weapons. A timeframe for collecting weapons from the armed factions would be announced within 15 days, it said.

Another point of the agreement said that fine of Rs10 million [$35,933] would be imposed on those who violate the terms of the deal by using weapons against each other.

It also said that all bunkers dug by the warring tribes would be dismantled within one month, while there will be a ban on digging new bunkers. It said that families who had been displaced due to the clashes in recent weeks would be rehabilitated.

The agreement said that land disputes in the volatile district would be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of the local tribes and the district administration. Opening banned outfits’ offices would be prohibited in the district while social media accounts spreading hate would be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.

‘SOURCE OF CONSOLATION’

Munir Bangash, a tribal elder who is part of the jirga, told Arab News the peace agreement has been welcomed widely. However, its implementation was a challenging job, he said.

“The agreement is a source of consolation for all parties involved,” Bangash said. “Now, it is up to the government to establish its writ and ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.”

Niaz Muhammad, a member of the Shia group “Anjuman-e-Hussain Parachinar,” was also part of the jirga. He said his group was satisfied with the agreement amid hopes that peace would return to Kurram as people were fed up of constant fighting.

“We’re happy with the signing of the agreement,” Muhammad told Arab News. “Both the tribes want peace that’s why the peace agreement was reached. If there is a will there is a way.”

Saif said to ensure implementation of the agreement, people will leave in convoys on Saturday via land routes in the district.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur lauded the provincial government’s efforts, saying they yielded fruit after convincing both parties to sign the peace deal.

“I welcome this important development and congratulate all parties,” Gandapur said in a statement. “The signing of the agreement is a significant step toward a sustainable solution to the Kurram issue.”

He lauded the efforts of local administration, cabinet members, civil and security officials and specifically members of the jirga for playing a vibrant role in tackling the issue amicably.

The agreement was a clear message to elements spreading hatred between the parties, he said, adding that fighting and violence were not solutions to problems.

“If there is peace in the region, there will be development and positive changes,” Gandapur said.