7 killed in IED blast, firing in Kurram

PARACHINAR/SADDA: At least seven persons were killed and three others sustained injuries in a bomb blast and two other incidents in various areas of the volatile Kurram tribal district on Sunday. Local sources said that unidentified terrorists had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) in Tindo area near the Korram Road, which went off when a passenger van was passing through the area.

As a result, five persons identified as Saeedullah, his brother Hanifullah, Saeedullah’s son Hasnain, Zikriya and Naveed were killed on the spot. Another person sustained injuries in the incident. The injured was taken to a hospital where his condition was stated to be precarious. The dead and injured belonged to the same family, who were going to Sadda to purchase a sacrificial animal for Eidul Azha.

The emergency officer of Rescue 1122,Ghulam Murtaza, said that they reached the spot soon after the incident and shifted the dead and injured to hospital.

In another incident, unidentified gunmen shot dead two brothers identified as Habib and Sherin in Satain area in lower part of Kurram district. District Police officer Nisar Ahmad said that the police were investigating the two incidents.

Meanwhile, three FC personnel sustained injuries when unidentified persons opened fire on a post in the Sangroba area in Central Kurram.

The elders and social and political figures have expressed concern over rising incidents of militancy and lawlessness and urged the police and law enforcing agencies to restore lasting peace in the area. It may be mentioned that a large number of people holding white flags had participated in a protest and demanded restoration of peace to Kurram tribal district a few days back.

The participants carrying white flags marched from Sadda to Parachinar and asked the government to restore peace.

They asked the authorities to take steps to ensure the restoration of peace and prevent any attempt to vitiate the law and order in the Kurram tribal district. The march started from Sadda tehsil and ended at Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram tribal district.

Local elders, including Jalal Bangash, Agha Tajammul Hussain, Abdul Khaliq Pathan, Agha Muzammil Hussain and others had said that they did not approve of violence and bloodshed in the name of religion.