Road closure blocks relief supplies to Kurram

Police APC comes under fire in Lower Kurram

PESHAWAR/DI KHAN:

Roads closures in Kurram prevented the second trucks convoy, carrying food and other items of daily use, from reaching the beleaguered district, where a police party came under fire, officials and local sources said on Friday.

According to the district administration, local residents had staged a sit-in in Mandori, Lower Kurram for their demands. Because of the sit-in, the Tal-Parachinar highway had been closed, it said, adding that negotiations were underway with the protest leaders in Tal Cantt for the reopening of the road.

According to Kurram police, the trucks loaded with goods could not reach Upper Kurram because the clearance for the road in Lower Kurram was not issued. They added that currently, the convoy was stuck in Tal in the Hangu district. The convoy was expected to resume its journey on Saturday.

People are facing difficulties because of the delay in the arrival of the convoy," Haji Imdad, the president of the Trade Union of Kurram, said. "There is a severe shortage of edibles, medicines, fuel and other items of daily use in the district for which 500 trucks of goods are required."

The district administration Kurram said that the government was taking steps in collaboration with all relevant institutions and jirga members, including talks with the sit-in protesters in Mandori, to clear the road and restore regular traffic.

Meanwhile, a police armoured personnel carrier (APC) came under gunfire near the Balashkhel check post in Lower Kurram but luckily there were no casualties. Police said that the firing came from a passing vehicle, which did not stop at the post for search.

Local police station chief Fazal Karim and other policemen were present in the APC vehicle, when it was fired upon. Local tribesmen said that it was a misunderstanding because the passengers of the vehicle took the police for their enemies in disguise and did not stop, rather passed by firing.