Continued Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Kurram District DC Shot in Attack
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Islamabad, Jan 4 (NationPress) The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Kurram District in Pakistan's troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province was critically injured when his vehicle came under attack in Mandoori, Kojalai Baba village close to Bagan on Saturday.
This incident occurred just three days after opposing sectarian factions of Shia and Sunni Muslims finalized a 14-point peace agreement intended to establish a ceasefire in the area, which has been plagued by violence for over two months.
The peace accord was anticipated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region that has been isolated from the rest of the country for more than 88 days, leading to the deaths of over 150 individuals, including women and children, due to a lack of food and medical supplies.
Unfortunately, a 75-truck convoy carrying essential aid for the suffering populace of the district capital, Parachinar, was unable to proceed because of the obstruction of the Thall-Parachinar Sadda highway and the attack on DC Javaid Ullah Mehsud and two other security personnel on Saturday.
"The critically injured Deputy Commissioner was set to be airlifted to Peshawar, but the helicopter had to return due to inclement weather. Mehsud was struck by three bullets while negotiating with protesters resisting the opening of the road. We suspect local criminals were involved in the attack," revealed a source within the KP government.
"The DC has sustained injuries to his shoulder and legs and has lost a significant amount of blood. He will be transported to Thall Hospital from Alizai shortly. Three other individuals, including police constable Misal Khan and Frontier Corps soldiers Rahimullah and Rizwan, were also admitted to the hospital," the source confirmed.
The advisor to the KP government, Barrister Saif, later reported that Mehsud was out of danger.
"Surgery is currently underway, but his condition remains stable," stated Saif.
He also indicated that the convoy of trucks would soon continue its journey to Parachinar and urged both Shia and Sunni factions to disregard any rumors.
"We appeal to both communities to maintain calm and not succumb to any conspiracies. The attack on the convoy is part of a nefarious plot intended to exacerbate the suffering of Kurram," he emphasized.
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan condemned the attack, expressing grave concerns over the incident.
"The individuals behind this violent act seek to instigate chaos and undermine peace initiatives in the region," he stated.
According to IANS, local residents of the Kurram district have vowed to continue their protests, insisting they will not cease their sit-in until all roads are secured for travel.
"This is not the first instance where a peace agreement has been brokered. It took over two weeks to finalize this agreement, during which the suffering of the local populace was ignored. People are enduring starvation and medical shortages, leading to over 150 fatalities because hospitals lack necessary medications. Who is accountable for this?" a resident of Parachinar remarked to IANS.
The sectarian conflict in Parachinar began in the last week of November when an attack on a bus resulted in the deaths of over 47 Shia Muslims. In retaliation, Shia militant groups launched assaults on Sunni villages, resulting in the brutal deaths of more than 150 individuals. Since that time, the tribal area has been severed from the rest of the nation.
Despite prolonged discussions aimed at establishing peace, the delay has plunged Parachinar residents into profound distress, with over 150 people perishing in hospitals due to a lack of medicines. Educational institutions have remained closed due to security concerns, and public transport has been halted. The border with Afghanistan has also remained shut due to security issues.
Local authorities and members of the peace Jirga, or tribal court, have assured that following the signing of the peace agreement, the delivery of food and essential goods to Parachinar city, Bushahra, and over 100 villages will commence shortly.
"Medicines have already been dispatched to Parachinar by a charitable organization, and similar supplies are being sent to other affected areas," stated Deputy Commissioner Javed Ullah Mehsud.
Road access in Kurram has been obstructed for over 88 days, and the sole access road leading to Parachinar has also been closed for security reasons.
Locals express skepticism regarding the feasibility of the peace agreement, fearing it may not come to fruition as it requires the disarmament and dismantling of bunkers held by both Shia and Sunni tribes.
"While we welcome the agreement, we are also aware that similar past agreements have been disregarded following a single incident. The Shia and Sunni tribes have been in conflict for far too long, and it is unlikely they will relinquish their weapons and diminish their military strength," expressed Saifullah, a protesting resident of Parachinar.
"All we desire is our right to live. We cannot bear to see our children perish at home and in hospitals due to a lack of medicines and treatment. We want our children to attend schools and colleges; we do not wish for our families to endure days without food, nor do we want our businesses to close. This is why we will not cease our protests until full peace, security, and normalcy are restored in the region," he concluded.
