Gloom prevails in Parachinar a day after Lower Kurram killings

PARACHINAR: The atmosphere in Parachinar remained tense on Saturday, a day after the murder of three residents in the Bagan area in Lower Kurram.

The locals said that Tahir Hussain, Safar Ali and Mazhar Ali were on their way to Peshawar when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them, resulting in their deaths. “The victims were traveling through insecure routes as their foreign visas were about to expire. They had no other option but to take the risk as the road to Parachinar could not be opened for the traffic for the last seven due to violence,” said an elder.

When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aamir Nawaz said that an investigation was underway into the killing of the three men in Bagan.

In response to the killings and ongoing road blockades, former Senator Allama Abid Al-Hussaini has announced a protest to be at Kashmir Chowk on Monday. He criticised the continued closure of routes for the past seven months, labeling it an inhumane act. “Despite peace agreements and three military operations, the failure to clear just 15 kilometers of road raises serious questions about the performance of the government,” he stated.

Meanwhile, a sit-in protest in Parachinar has now entered its 50th day. The protesters have been demanding the immediate reopening and securing of routes, compensation packages for the families of those killed in terrorist incidents, and support for those affected by the ongoing unrest. The protest is being led by local social activist, Musarrat Bangash, and tribal elder Malik Zartaj, who have vowed to continue the sit-in until their demands are met.