Kurram DC wounded in firing as fragile ceasefire fails to hold

KURRAM: Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud was shot and injured in fresh firing as violence erupted in the Bagan area, despite a peace deal aimed at restoring calm in the crisis-hit region.

District administration officials said that, in addition to the DC, five others were injured, including a Frontier Constabulary personnel, a policeman, and three civilians who were passing by.

The deputy commissioner, who had played a key role in efforts to restore peace in the restive region, and others were rushed to the hospital immediately after the attack.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Saif, while talking to the media in Kohat said that by the grace of Allah, everyone’s condition is now stable and out of danger.

He also mentioned that the deputy commissioner was the target of the attack. "Firing was carried out on the deputy commissioner’s vehicle," he added.

Kohat Regional Police Officer Abbas Majeed Marwat told Geo News that unknown people fired upon the district administration's vehicle.

The official clarified that it was unidentified people who resorted to firing upon the district administration's vehicle and not the tribal people. He said that a search operation was launched in the area to hunt down the suspects.

Kurram has been in the spotlight for months now as the persistent violence in the district took more than 130 lives and injured scores, with a peace deal finally struck on January 1 after around 50-day-long negotiations between tribal elders.

Both the warring sides in the Kurram district, with assistance from the Grand Jirga, had agreed to 14 points, among which was handing over private weapons to the government as well as dismantling of bunkers.

It was hoped that the agreement would hold as the violence forced the government to block the Tal-Parachinar Road, which led to the shortage of food, medicine, and other essential items in the district.

As a result of the firing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the truck convoy carrying relief goods to the district had been stopped for the time being.

He also said the deputy commissioner’s condition was out of danger and he was being transferred to Peshawar through a helicopter for further medical attention.

Condemnations, warnings

President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned a firing incident at Lower Kurram and emphasised the need to take strict action against those elements trying to disrupt peace efforts in the area.

The president prayed for the swift recovery of the deputy commissioner and others who were injured in the firing incident, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.

The president observed that miscreants wanted to stir chaos and stressed upon the people not to let these elements succeed in their malicious objectives.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, moreover, has strongly condemned the firing incident and expressed his heartfelt wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident, including the DC.

PM Shehbaz remarked that the attack was an attempt to undermine the peace agreement in the region. He emphasised that those who attempt to disrupt peace and order will not succeed.

The prime minister also assured that the government and security forces are actively engaged in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of the people.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack on the government vehicle, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the peace agreement.

He prayed for the swift recovery of DC Mehsud, who was injured in the attack. The minister labelled the incident a malicious act by miscreants seeking to destabilise the region, calling it a "conspiracy" against the peace process.

Condemning the mishap, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said the firing incident established the provincial government’s failure and incompetence. He also prayed for the early recovery of Mehsud.

KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam expressed deep regret over the firing incident, explaining that the deputy commissioner was en route to Bagan when unidentified armed individuals opened fire on his vehicle.

He urged both parties to maintain peace, emphasising that the Kohat Agreement is being implemented to ensure stability.

The chief secretary warned that strict legal action would be taken against those attempting to disrupt law and order in the Kurram region.