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Kurram DC among 5 injured in Parachinar-bound convoy attack
KP CM demands urgent report; two security officials, three passersby also injured
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Deputy Commissioner of Kurram Javedullah Mehsud was among five people injured in a firing incident involving government vehicles in Lower Kurram.
The incident occurred near Irfani Killi in Tehsil Alizai, where Mr Mehsud's vehicle was attacked.
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According to initial reports, two security officials and three passers-by were also injured in the attack. Both officials were transported to Tehsil Lower Alizai Hospital.
The district administration confirmed the shooting took place near the Bagan area of Lower Kurram, where intermittent firing continues.
Local authorities initiated a search operation, with the Kohat regional police officer (RPO) confirming that the attack was carried out by unidentified assailants, not warring parties.
Barrister Saif said that the injured deputy commissioner and his injured guard were airlifted to Peshawar by helicopter from Tal CMH. "He is being transferred to Peshawar after undergoing necessary surgery at Tal CMH," Barrister Saif said, adding that the DC had been hit by three bullets, but was out of danger.
Additional medical facilities will be provided at Peshawar CMH, Barrister Saif stated.
DC Kurram out of danger, security situation under control
Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, who was injured in an attack on his convoy in Lower Kurram, was earlier shifted to Tal CMH for medical treatment, according to KP government Adviser Barrister Saif.
The DC underwent surgery and is now reported to be out of danger. Barrister Saif, who is present at Tal CMH alongside Kohat Commissioner Motasim Billah, the DIG, and other officials, confirmed that the situation is under control, with security forces having taken charge of the area.
Barrister Saif termed the attack a "sinister conspiracy" by unknown miscreants and urged all parties to remain peaceful and avoid falling prey to provocations. While the convoy has been temporarily halted, the clearance process is ongoing, and the convoy will resume its journey soon, he assured.
Gandapur demands urgent report on incident
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has strongly condemned the recent firing on a convoy of government vehicles in Lower Kurram.
The KP CM has called for an urgent report on the incident from higher authorities and vowed to take strict action against those responsible for the attack.
“This incident is extremely regrettable and condemnable. It is a clear attempt to sabotage the ongoing peace efforts in Kurram,” Gandapur stated. He expressed his deep concern over the attack, stressing that such actions are being carried out by elements who do not want peace to be restored in the region.
Gandapur also expressed his solidarity with the injured officials, wishing for their swift recovery. “I pray for the speedy recovery of Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud and all others injured in this tragic incident,” he added.
Gandapur emphasized that the provincial government remains fully committed to restoring peace in Kurram and addressing the issues faced by its people.
He hailed the recent peace agreement between the tribes as a significant step toward stability, asserting that the people of Kurram are peaceful and want to see the region free from conflict.
“The agreement reached between the parties is proof of the people’s desire for peace in the area,” Gandapur remarked.
In addition to the convoy, relief efforts are underway for the victims of the ongoing crisis in Kurram. Seventeen trucks loaded with essential supplies, including cold protection equipment and medical protective kits, have been dispatched after several hours of coordination.
On the instructions of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Advisor Relief Naik Muhammad personally handed over the supplies from the PDM Peshawar Warehouse to the Kurram administration.
These supplies include 500 tents, mats, blankets, beds, pillows, and medical protective kits. The convoy also carries 200 tarpaulins, 50 solar lamps, and 150 sleeping bags, aimed at providing much-needed assistance to the affected population in the region.
The peace accord
This incident follows the recent reopening of the Tal-Parachinar road after a three-month closure, a major development in restoring stability to the region. The Tal-Parachinar road had been blocked due to ongoing sectarian violence and tribal clashes, which severely hampered the movement of essential goods and services, contributing to a humanitarian crisis.
After an intense peace agreement was signed between warring tribes, the road was officially reopened earlier today, allowing the first convoy of over 75 vehicles to pass through and deliver much-needed supplies, including medicine, wheat, and food items, to the conflict-ridden Kurram district.
Read also: Tensions end in Kurram; parties reach peace agreement
KP Chief Minister’s Adviser Barrister Saif, who was present at the departure of the convoy, emphasized the role of peace committees in safeguarding the region and ensuring the security of the convoys. These committees, composed of tribal elders and political leaders, are critical to maintaining the fragile peace that was negotiated after days of intense discussions between the two warring factions.
The peace agreement reached last week also includes provisions for disarming local residents, dismantling private bunkers, and restoring order within the next few weeks.
The district has long been a hotspot for sectarian violence, with over 200 deaths reported since July, and tensions have only escalated since November, when clashes exacerbated an already dire situation.
