Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Following the Jirga committee meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to find out a workable solution to put an end to Naqeebullah Mehsud sit-in, no breakthrough has been achieved because the protesters insist they should be given tangible assurances for acceptance of their demands.

Entering its eighth day, the Pashtun Qaumi Jirga in Islamabad is gaining momentum again which was earlier expected to end in the wake of Jirga members meeting with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Abbasi had assured all resources would be employed to detain the absconder ex-SSP Rao Anwar involved in the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a staged police encounter in Karachi on January 13.

“The issue of Naqeebullah Mehsud killing is not only a matter of the provincial government rather it is a matter of the state,” Abbasi had said.

However, when the Jirga members reached the protest venue after holding hours long meeting to inform the protesters about the nitty-gritty of their interaction with the prime minister.

“The Jirga members briefed the protesters that the prime minister has assured our demands will be accepted unconditionally. But the protesters asked who will be responsible if our demands are not met,” a number of protesting elders say.

A protester Muhammad Aimal Shah, said there were agreements reached with leaders of earlier sit-ins but those promises could not be materialised after ending their dharnas. He said that some 15 elders left the protest venue, saying that the sit-in should be called off after meeting with the prime minister who assured resolution of their demands.

Published in Daily Times, February 8^th 2018.