Firing in Bagan: Four drivers found dead in Lower Kurram

PARACHINAR: The bodies of four drivers, who were part of a convoy carrying essential items to Parachinar, were found at Orali area in Lower Kurram on Friday.

On Thursday, one soldier was martyred and four others were injured when armed assailants ambushed a convoy in Bagan town in the restive Kurram on Thursday. However, on Friday it transpired that two soldiers had been martyred in the attack on the convoy.

The security forces had killed six attackers and injured 10 others in retaliation.

According to police sources, the attackers targeted the convoy heading to Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram tribal district. There were around 35 vehicles in the convoy. Communication was lost with drivers of 29 vehicles after the attack though some of them had managed to reach Thall tehsil in the Hangu district.

The four drivers were found dead at Orali area in Lower Kurram with their hands tied at the back. The slain drivers were identified as Imran, Hassan Ali, Shahid Ali and Saqib Hussain. The attackers had looted food and supplies from 33 trucks, burning 12 of them. Many trucks and individuals were still unaccounted for, intensifying fears among the local population.

The Grand Jirga, comprising Pir Haider Shah, Noor Jaf, Wasi Syed Mian, and Laiq Orakzai condemned the repeated violations of the peace agreement and expressed frustration with the government’s silence. Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to launch an operation against terrorists in the lower region of Kurram district. The deputy commissioner of Kurram issued a notification to establish Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs) camps in Thal and Hangu for the operation-affected population. In total, 14 people lost their lives, including two security personnel and six terrorists killed in retaliation by the forces.