PARACHINAR: The situation in the Pakistan’s northwest town of Parachinar returned to normalcy on Saturday after protesters called off their eight-day long sit-in against the twin blasts that hit the town’s Turi market leaving over 70 dead and around 200 injured, ARY News reported.
Parachinar’s markets, educational institutions,and government offices opened as per their routine on Saturday morning.
The latest in the series of terrorist attacks that hit the town in 2017 triggered outrage in and outside Parachinar, with the locals staging sit-ins through the Eid festival, demanding to negotiate with the army chief or the interior minister.
Parachinar’s market had witnessed the third devastating terrorist attack on June 23 this year which brought the total loss of life in the main city of the Kurram tribal region to 115, which is more than any other city in the country had suffered in this year.
Following the attacks, the locals announced to stage sit-ins until their demands with regard to their safety were met. The local market, commercial businesses, educational institutions and other activities remained suspended in the town over the past week.
The victim families had also rejected the compensation offered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the loss of their loved ones.
A day before Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Parachinar to meet protesters and tribal elders and held talks with them. He announced to make the city safe by enhancing security footprints in the town.
Subsequently, the protesters announced to end their sit-in and return to normal life.
