Eight members of a family killed in Kurram Agency landmine blast

Doctors say injured is out of danger

PARACHINAR: At least eight members of a family, including two minor girls, were killed and another man was injured in a landmine blast in Kurram Agency early on Tuesday.

According to hospital sources, the family was traveling from Muqbal area near the border to attend a funeral in Upper Kurram’s Basu area when their vehicle hit a landmine killing three women, two minor girls and three men on the spot. The car was completely destroyed in the blast.

The injured man, Seeda Khan, was shifted to District Hospital in Parachinar for medical assistance.

 

PHOTO: EXPRESS

A doctor at the hospital said he was out of danger and had been moved to Peshawar after being provided with medical aid.

Political administration has launched an inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, Member National Assembly Sajid Hussain Turi condemned the incident and demanded a high-level investigation.

The local tribesmen brought out a big rally in protest and staged a sit-in on the Kharlachi-Parachinar Road. On the occasion, tribal leaders Mufti Wali, Imranuddin, Malik Sabir Jan, Haji Noor Muhammad demanded of the government to take strict action against those responsible for the blast.

Another tribal leader Haji Zaman Bangash and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Hikmat Khan also spoke on the occasion and demanded provision of ‘Shaheed package’ to the heirs of the martyred family.



Later, Brig Akhtar Aleem of the Pakistan Army, Kurram’s Political Agent Baseer Khan Wazir and Commandant Kurram Militia Col Rashid Javaid spoke with the protestors and assured them that all possible measures would be taken for the security of the people of the agency.

“In order to make this region secure, we have sped up the work for barbed-wiring of the Pakistan-Afghan border,” Brig Akhtar told the protestors. “We will give serious consideration to your lawful demands.”