Another 14 killed in Kurram clashes, Gandapur seeks more FC men

Amid aggravating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, 14 more people were killed and twenty-seven others injured during the last twenty-four hours, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Saturday. 

According to police, sectarian clashes between local tribes has been continuing for the past 10 days. Mobile and internet services remained suspended across the district and educational institutions are closed. 

Hospital sources said two more people were killed in fresh clashes on Saturday and three injured who were later referred to hospital. 

During the last ten days, 124 people were killed and 178 injured in firing incidents in the district. 

Traffic has been suspended on the main highways and on Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border road. 

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur visited Kohat to attend Grand Jirga on Kurram crisis on Saturday. 

Addressing the Jirga, CM Gandapur announced that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace and elements who were creating law and order situation will be treated like terrorists. 

Gandapur said on the request of the provincial government, the army’s contingents have been deployed for restoring peace in the area and demanded the federal government provide more Frontier Constabulary men. 

He ordered that all pickets set up by the tribes in the area should be eliminated without discrimination. 

He requested local elders to play their role in eliminating hatred between various religious sects. 

The Chief Minister ordered that heavy weapons possessed by the people in the area should be collected. Gandapur said Army, Police and civil Administration were making concerted efforts for lasting peace in the region. He said the grand jirga will remain in the area until complete peace is established and the provincial government will provide all possible support in this regard. 

He urged locals to identify those who are disrupting peace in the area. Gandapur announced that anyone who takes up arms will be called a terrorist and the fate of terrorists is hell. 

Gandapur said that the funds should be released on priority basis for the help of temporarily displaced people of the area. Chief Minister said the provincial government will ensure return of these homeless people. 

On November 21, 52 people including women and children were killed in the firing incident on the Parachinar passenger train in Mandori Uacht area of Lower Kurram. After the attack on passenger vehicles, a series of firing and clashes started in different areas which still continue in the region. 

Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javidullah Mehsud claimed that negotiation process has started with the leaders of the warring parties. He hoped that peace talks were expected to make significant progress. 

The DC said steps will be taken to open the traffic routes after the ceasefire.