Four martyred in Kurram vehicles attack

Victims include woman, driver and two security personnel

PARACHINAR:

Four people were martyred and three others injured on Sunday when terrorists opened fire on passenger vehicles near Sadda Bazaar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district.

According to police, a passenger coach and a fielder vehicle travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar were targeted.

They added that the people who lost their lives in the attack included a woman, driver Rehman Ali as well as security personnel Ghulam Mustafa and Abdul Qadir Khattak.

Police reported that the attackers deployed automated weapons in the assault, prompting an ongoing operation to apprehend the assailants. The Parachinar district headquarters hospital confirmed the death toll, with the injured receiving treatment.

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The funeral prayers for the martyred individuals were offered, marking another somber occasion in Kurram district, where terrorist attacks on passenger vehicles have claimed over 20 lives and injured around 30 people in recent months. These incidents have not only resulted in significant casualties but have also fueled clashes among local tribes, causing further loss of life and injury.

In response to the latest attack, the tribes of Turi Bangash have urgently called for a jirga (meeting) to devise strategies to prevent such incidents. The interim Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and ordered the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Former federal minister Sajid Turi voiced growing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Kurram district.

He emphasized the urgent need for measures to secure the Parachinar-Peshawar main highway and safeguard the lives and properties of the people. Turi urged locals to actively identify elements involved in terrorism.

Highlighting the ongoing challenges, a similar incident occurred last week in Hangu district, where a terrorist attack on a passenger coach left a man injured. However, the attackers were repelled by a brave passenger who opened fire on them.

The recurring attacks underscore the critical need for concerted efforts to ensure the safety and security of the region's residents.

(With input from our correspondent in Peshawar)