MPA calls for strict action to restore peace in Kurram

KURRAM: Lambasting at the deteriorating situation in Kurram after an armed attack on Friday, Minister for Provincial Assembly (MPA) Ali Hadi Irfani said that constant violations of the peace agreement are augmenting suffering of the public.

“Government must assert its authority and act against those harming peace. Instead of punishing the public, authorities should address treaty violations,” He said, adding that it seems these violations are an attempt to further distress the already suffering 500,000 residents.

On Friday, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) for Kurram Saeed Manan Khan, was injured as a result of shooting in the Boshehra area of Upper Kurram tehsil, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Accompanied by a tribal leader, Shafique Hussain, Manan was on his way to enforce a ceasefire agreement when he was attacked. He was taken to Parachinar District Headquarters Hospital for surgery and was later moved to Peshawar.

Police officials confirmed that armed men attacked Toot Piyala region in Lower Kurram with heavy and automatic weapons but they fled once police retaliated. There were no reports of injuries or deaths in the particular incident.

In a separate incident in Boshehra, police officer Ashiq Hussain succumbed to a sniper shot after the Boshehra attack was neutralised. His funeral was held on Saturday and he would received a Guard of Honour posthumously. His two brothers also fell prey to terror incidents in the past.

Activist and leader Yusuf Lala also lamented the developments stressing that the four months of road closures have left people in crisis.

Earlier, a convoy of 33 vehicles set to resupply local traders in the northwest Kurram region with rice, flour and cooking oil, and two aid vehicles carrying essential medicine was attacked leading at least 10 deaths. The mutilated bodies of four missing drivers from the aid convoy were discovered in the Urwali area of Lower Kurram. The victims were found with their hands tied behind their backs and had been shot.

At the beginning of January this year when Kurram lockdown was lifted, Deputy Commissioner Javaidullah Mehsud among seven others got injured as security forces accompanying convoy transporting aid to Parachinar came under attack of unknown extremists in Bagan.