Cheques distributed among injured and families of Parachinar blast victims

Col Rashid says govt’s top priority is to maintain peace in the agency

PARACHINAR: Paramilitary Kurram Militia’s newly appointed commander Colonel Rashid on Saturday distributed cheques among relatives of the protestors, who were killed and injured in security forces firing after the June 23 blasts in Parachinar area of Kurram Agency.

Security forces had opened fire after violent protests erupted in the wake of the twin blasts that claimed over 75 lives and injured over 50 people in the agency’s headquarters on the last Friday of Ramazan.

The blasts and the subsequent firing were followed by a marathon sit-in which was called off after army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the agency on Friday and met with the protestors.



The new commander handed over three cheques each of Rs1 million to relatives of protestors who were killed and gave 14 cheques each of Rs200,000 to people who sustained injuries in the incident.

Addressing the gathering, Col Rashid said it was the government’s top priority to maintain peace in the agency, adding that nobody could be allowed to take law into their own hands.

He said protecting human lives was the foremost agenda of the forces and the civil government, which would make every effort to make the agency safe and militancy-free.



“We have enhanced vigilance at the border post with Afghanistan and increased border patrolling. Every single human entry is recorded through our team in a bid to make the agency militancy-free,” he said.

On the occasion, MNA Sajid Turi said the tribal people stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces. He also appreciated the army chief’s visit to the area.