Parachinar’s main road shut for 74 days as govt vows to dismantle bunkers

• Deputy commissioner says efforts to resolve issue are underway. 
• KP CM’s aide Barrister Muhammad Saif rules out shortage of medicines. 
• Saif says Kurram will be made weapon-free as per apex body’s decision.

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PARACHINAR: The Tal-Parachinar road, one of the main arteries in the area, stayed shut for all forms of traffic on the 74th consecutive day, causing significant disruptions in Kurram, as the situation in the conflict-hit region remains tense.

The local authorities also confirmed the continued closure of the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border, which has halted all trade activities.

The prolonged roadblock has led to severe shortages of essential supplies in Parachinar, including food items, medicines, fuel, firewood, and LPG, while daily life and economic activities remain heavily impacted as a result. 

Parachinar deputy commissioner said that efforts to resolve the issue are underway, with tribal elders engaged in jirgas and negotiations.

The closure of main roads in Kurram has led to the closure of all public and private educational institutions in protest. 

However, KP CM’s Adviser Barrister Muhammad Saif ruled out the shortage of medicines in the hospitals in Kurram, saying that all emergency medicines had been provided, The News reported on Saturday.

He said that medical and life saving medicines were also dispatched to Kurram, while negotiation of grand tribal jirga on Kurram situation was in progress in Kohat and hopefully the problem would be addressed in next few days.

In a more recent statement, Barrister Saif said that in line with the Apex Committee’s decision, District Kurram will be made weapon-free. He emphasised that sustainable peace in the district requires ensuring the dismantling of bunkers.

The CM’s aide acknowledged the public inconvinience caused by the closure of routes in Kurram, but assured that normalcy would return to daily life following the implementation of the peace agreement.

He added that roads will be fully reopened once the private bunkers are removed and weapons are surrendered.

Barrister Saif reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing lasting and sustainable peace in Kurram. However, he noted that certain elements are opposed to peace in the region and are spreading baseless propaganda on social media regarding Kurram.

The KP official also expressed concern over the misrepresentation of the provincial government’s sincere efforts by these elements.

Earlier, religious scholars from the restive region on Friday staged a protest, demanding the immediate reopening and securing of the roads.

Headmasters and principals of local schools also joined the protests, closing all educational institutions to draw attention to the worsening situation.

Speaking at a press conference in Parachinar, religious leaders including Allama Noor Hussain Najafi, Allama Khyal Hussain, Allama Syed Safdar Ali Shah, Allama Iran Ali, and Allama Muhammad Hussain Tahiri criticised Barrister Saif’s dismissal of the reports of children’s deaths in Kurram, describing it as “misleading”. 

The KP Apex Committee on Friday decided to dismantle all private bunkers in the Kurram district as part of efforts to restore peace in the region.

The significant decision was made during the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Peshawar Corps Commander, the provincial chief secretary, the inspector general, and key cabinet members.

Tribal clashes have killed more than 200 people since July, with various truces announced since the latest round of fighting began, as elders from the two sides negotiate a lasting agreement.

In the meantime, the government has shut down key roads in and out of the district in an attempt to quell the violence, after a security convoy escorting residents was attacked in November, leaving more than 40 dead.

At least 133 people have since been killed and 177 wounded in sporadic clashes since November 21.