PESHAWAR: Ongoing clashes between two tribes over a piece of land in Kurram tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province claimed two more lives on Tuesday, taking the total number of casualties to 11.
The clashes started five days ago in the Boshehra Dandar area and spread to other areas including Khar Kallay, Pewar, Gidu Baleshkhel, Teri Mengal, Karman Para Chamkani, Kunj Alizai and Maqbal.
Due to the clashes in the affected area, people are facing a persistent shortage of food items, medicine and fuel as most of the roads are blocked, with the closure of educational institutions creating further disruption to routine life.
Last-day protests were held in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country against the tense situation in Kurram District.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, clashes were reported in Sadda, Pewar, Gidu, Khar Kalley, Baleshkhel, Chamkani and Kunj Alizai. According to local sources, the death toll reached 11 while 67 others were injured in the clashes so far.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi, who also hailed from the area, expressed concern over the issue and said that he was personally taking part in negotiations with the efforts in achieving a ceasefire.
He said that unfortunately due to repeated violations of the ceasefire agreements, the situation has not yet been brought under control.
He urged the federal and provincial governments to take immediate and decisive steps to stop clashes and restore peace in the area.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, representatives and leaders from Awami National Party (ANP) staged a sit-in protest outside the Parachinar Press Club and demanded the government to restore peace in the area.
HRCP Condemns Clashes
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed deep concern over the issue and tragic loss of human lives.
It lamented that such developments could become catalysts to re-emerge militancy in the area.
HRCP is deeply concerned by reports of civil unrest in #Kurram, incl. violence perpetrated by rival sects, which have not only led to at least 9 deaths, but also interrupted access to schools and curtailed freedom of movement, especially that of the local Shia community. 1/n
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 11, 2023
There are also alarming reports of rising militancy feeding into local conflicts. The government must immediately undertake to resolve all sectarian differences peacefully and restore law and order to this region. 2/n
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 11, 2023
The Human Rights Commission while taking to Twitter handle via a series of tweets also demanded the government to ensure the right to life and security of all citizens of the newly merged districts.
