Ceasefire in Kurram after clashes left 49 dead

PARACHINAR: A senior official on Tuesday said the administration along with the security forces and tribal elders managed to effect a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district where around 49 people lost their lives in the clashes between two rival tribes over the last seven days.

Commissioner Kohat Division Syed Mutasim Billah Shah said that due to round-the-clock efforts of the district administration, security forces, divisional grand jirga leaders and tribal elders, a complete ceasefire had been achieved at various places in Kurram district and the uncertainty had ended.

He said the bunkers had been handed over to the police, Pak Army and FC personnel. He expressed these views while presiding over a jirga comprising divisional leaders and tribal elders at the office of the deputy commissioner Kurram.

Regional Police Officer, Kohat, Sher Akbar Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kurram, Javedullah Mehsud, jirga members, tribal elders and other officials were present.

Paying rich tributes to the chiefs of the divisional grand jirga, the commissioner Kohat said that their role in establishing peace and order in the Kurram district was commendable.

He said he would continue to visit Kurram district till resolution of the problems on permanent basis.

He added that he would stay in touch with the local leaders to develop an atmosphere of trust among all the followers of all sects so that no untoward incident happened in future.

At the end, special prayers were made to make Kurram district a cradle of peace on a permanent basis.

The local administration and the elders had been making efforts to broker a ceasefire to end violence in Kurram. The two warring tribes had been engaged in deadly clashes that left 49 people dead and over 190 injured in one week. The clashes started seven days ago between members of two tribes in the Kurram tribal district over a land dispute. Initially, the clashes broke out at Boshera, which later spread to other areas including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Killay, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai and Para Chamkani area. The fighting disrupted routine life in the district. The two sides used heavy weapons during the clashes. Rockets were also fired at Sadda and Parachinar.

The main Parachinar-Peshawar road remained closed to traffic due to the clashes. The transportation of goods came to a halt to the fighting which created a shortage of food items and medicines in Kurram. The educational institutions also remained shut when the tensions flared up in the region.

Commissioner Kohat Division Syed Mutasim Billah Shah has said that Alhamdulillah, due to round-the-clock efforts of the district administration, security forces, divisional grand jirga leaders and tribal elders, a complete ceasefire has been achieved at various places in Kurram District and the uncertainty has been ended. The bunkers have been handed over to the Police, Pak Army and FC.

These views were expressed by the Commissioner Kohat Division while presiding over the Grand Jirga comprising of Divisional Leaders and Tribal Elders held in the office of the Deputy Commissioner Kurram.

On this occasion, Regional Police Officer Kohat Sher Akbar Khan, Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javedullah Mehsud, Jirga Members, Tribal Elders and other concerned officers were present.

Commissioner Kohat while paying rich tributes to the chiefs of the Divisional Grand Jirga said that their role in establishing peace and order in the Kurram district is commendable. He further said that he will continue to visit Kurram district time to time till resolution of the problems of the district concerned on permanent basis. He added that he will be in close contact with the local leaders to develop an atmosphere of trustworthiness among all the sects here so that no untoward incident happens in the future.

At the end, special prayers were made to make Kurram district a cradle of peace on a permanent basis.