A group of protesters staged a sit-in in the Malir neighbourhood on Friday to condemn the deadly attack on passenger vans in Lower Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protest was organised in response to the incident in Parachinar, where at least 42 people were killed and more than 30 others injured when passenger vans coming from Parachinar to Peshawar were ambushed with heavy gunfire on Thursday.
The protesters, mainly members of a religious group, blocked a section of the National Highway at Kala Board, near Quaidabad, disrupting traffic and causing significant delays.
Karachi traffic police responded by closing the affected stretch of the highway and redirecting vehicles to alternative routes, including from Kala Board towards Saudabad and from Malir Halt towards Model Colony. Traffic police were present at the scene to manage the flow of vehicles and ensure safety.
In response to the attack, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) announced a nationwide three-day mourning period and called for protests across the country. The MWM had been vocal in condemning the attack and demanding justice for the victims.
The incident has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for stronger measures to ensure the safety of civilians in conflict-prone regions.
JI proposes grand Jirga
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has proposed the constitution of a grand Jirga in Parachinar, Kurrum Agency, in order to reduce tensions in the region. He also offered the JI playing a role in this regard.
Speaking at a press conference at the JI Karachi headquarters Idara Noor-e-Haq, Rehman proposed forming a grand council in Parachinar to resolve the sectarian tensions in the region. He also offered the JI playing a role in connection with the constitution and the functions of the grand jury.
He said the Parachinar incident was the result of a designed conspiracy to further deepen the division in our society. He quoted the local leaders of Parachinar as saying that a large number of innocent people lost their lives in an incident over a land dispute.
He pointed out that it is not a matter of Shia-Sunni dispute, but rather some forces that want to destabilise society and the country had staged the Parachinar incident, which he termed the worst failure of the government and the law enforcement agencies.
He held Pervez Musharraf and the “so-called war on terrorism” responsible for the prevailing situation. He recalled that the tribes were considered an army for Pakistan, but the policies introduced by Musharraf brought in terrorism, destruction, and loss of lives and properties as well as long-lasting negative impacts.
Rehman said the dictator had not only dragged the entire nation into the war for the United States but had also set very unfortunate examples, including the abduction of Dr Afia Siddiqui, providing logistic support against the neighbouring country, the penetration of the CIA and RAW into Pakistan, and the arrest of Afghan diplomats.
Referring to the recent ambush against the Pakistan Army in the Bannu area, he demanded that the government hold meaningful dialogue with the Afghan government.
The Afghan government needs to realise the sacrifices rendered by the Pakistani nation for the Afghan people, and handle the issue more sensibly, he stressed.
The JI leader said that the two sides — Pakistan and Afghanistan — need to sit together and chalk out a plan to foil the conspiracies hatched by third parties to destabilise the region.
He said Pakistan’s constitution has already decided the role of all segments, including those responsible for the security of borders. It is the responsibility of the government to gather all quarters, while the opposition would have to play its due role in this regard.
Talking about Balochistan, he emphasised the need for dialogue, saying that the use of only power would lead the nation nowhere. He also stressed the need to narrow down the widening gap between the pubic and the armed forces.
He demanded that the government reduce the rate of inflation on the ground, instead of creating a smoke screen of digits to mislead the masses.
He said the winter package announced by the government is nothing but a fake package. Those familiar with the development know very well the reality of the package, he added.
He demanded that the government expedite the dialogue process with independent power producers. He stressed that the result of the termination of capacity charges agreements should be reflected in the rate of electricity for the people.
Talking about Karachi, he said mandate theft paves the way for corruption in society. Military operations alone do not eradicate terrorism, as diplomatic norms are equally important, he added. Democratic norms should be encouraged, and the mandate should be respected where the JI has won seats, he demanded.
He also addressed thousands of participants assembled in Orangi Town in connection with the BanoQabil 4.0 aptitude test. He asked them to become volunteers for Alkhidmat on World Volunteer Day during the first week of December.
He said BanoQabil is aimed at shaping the future of the Pakistani youth. He also highlighted the lack of will for youth empowerment on the part of the government.