Protests, misery spread across Kurram

Sit-in enters its sixth day, locals warn of humanitarian crisis

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

The protests against the closure of roads in Kurram district have started spreading. The sit-in in Parachinar has entered its sixth day, and road blockages in the tribal district of Kurram, including Parachinar, continue.

In Parachinar itself, the sit-in on the main Kachehri Road in front of the Press Club has entered its sixth day.

Parachinar Tehsil Chairman Agha Mazmal stated that the tribal headquarters is under siege. "We cannot travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan. People are trapped here. No one seems to realise that millions of lives are facing severe difficulties right now," he added.

"It has been almost 78 days since the recent escalation in tensions, and Parachinar is cut off from the rest of the country. If anyone attempts to travel due to necessity, they are killed. We have not even buried two of our own in protest. Both were killed while traveling," he said.

Agha Mazmal asserted that their protest would continue until the issue was resolved. "A grand jirga from the government has arrived, and talks are ongoing. We are demanding that roads be opened and made safe for travel under any circumstances.

He warned that If the roads to Parachinar were not reopened, they would not remain silent and protests could spread across the country."

He stated that they have informed the government that if the roads to Parachinar are not reopened within the next 72 hours, highways, motorways, airports, and train tracks across the country will be blocked.

Currently, peaceful protests are taking place in various regions of the country to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar. Agha Mazmal concluded that their message is clear: "If the roads to Parachinar are not reopened, then all the roads in Pakistan will be blocked as well."

In the last cabinet meeting, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government imposed a relief emergency in the Kurram district due to the prevailing law and order situation. The provincial cabinet discussed the security situation and overall circumstances in Kurram.

Official sources confirmed that the cabinet approved the imposition of a relief emergency for the district. Relief payments for those killed and injured in Kurram have already been processed, according to sources.

The road closures in Kurram have resulted in severe shortages of basic necessities in the region, including food, medicine, fuel, and LPG.

Supplies have been entirely exhausted. Due to the unavailability of fuel, all public and private educational institutions in Upper Kurram have been shut down. ATMs are out of cash, adding to the distress of the citizens.

Hotels, bakeries, and shops selling vegetables and fruits have also been forced to close.

Border officials report that no movement is occurring through the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border either. Hospitals are facing critical shortages of medicines, leading to the deaths of patients, including more than 50 children.