Six of a family martyred in Kurram roadside blast

PARACHINAR: Six persons of a family were martyred when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Maqbal area in the upper Kurram Agency on Tuesday, local sources said.

The sources said the family was travelling to Boshera from the Maqbal area when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. The incident took place in Maqbal, leaving six persons martyred and one injured. The victims included Rawais Khan, Amin Badshah and Badshah Khan and three women. The injured was identified as Saida Jan.

The injured person was taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency. At the hospital, Dr Mumtaz told reporters that the injured Saida Jan was referred to Peshawar after first aid. However, he said his condition was stable.

A number of tribesmen staged a protest after the blast and blocked the Kharlachi-Parachinar road for traffic. The protesters also demanded the Shaheed compensation package for the blast victims.

Speaking to the protesters, Political Agent Basir Khan Wazir and Brigadier Aleem Akhtar of the army said that the administration and security forces would ensure law and order in Kurram Agency. The officials said demands of the protesters would be forwarded to the government. It wasn't clear who was involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, members of Anjuman-e-Hussainia, Member National Assembly Sajid Turi and local elder Ibrar Hussain condemned the blast and demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.

They said that anti-state elements wanted to create a law and order situation in the country through such terror acts. They said that Turi and Bangash tribes would continue supporting the security forces for maintaining law and order.