KOHAT, March 30: The Shia-Sunni rival groups here agreed to sign a peace agreement on April 9 after local administration held negotiations with the protesters, who had earlier blocked the Kohat-Parachinar road against the ongoing unrest in the area.

Large number of people belonging to a religious group blocked the Kohat-Parachinar road at Nasrat Khel for four hours on Sunday demanding safety of the passengers.

The local administration and elected representatives held negotiations with the protesters and persuaded them to sign peace agreement on April 9 at Circuit House, Kohat. It was decided that peace committees comprising fifty members each would be formed from both the sides which would ensure the safety of the passengers and opening of the road right from Khushal Garh, Kohat up to Parachinar.

Both the parties agreed that the violator of the agreement would be fined Rs50 million in case any harm was caused to the passengers or vehicles were snatched by any group in future.

The Kohat-Hangu road was not being used by the people for the past several months following the killing of people in Darra Adam Khel and violence which took place in Kurram Agency in reaction to it.