The family was going from Jalozai Camp, where Naheed had been residing for two years, to Kalangah in Bara. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: Naheed Bibi’s will have no fond memories of her wedding. When her family members gathered after two years for a function at her in-laws house in Bara, a stray mortal shell hit the vehicle they were onboard and stole the precious moments.
The family was going from Jalozai Camp, where Naheed had been residing for two years, to Kalangah in Bara. Her family was scared to visit Khyber Agency so they had limited the number of guests and hired only one vehicle for security purposes. Everyone who went, however, became victim to an ugly coincidence.
One of the family members Mehboobul Haq was killed and 16 other relatives injured in the incident on New Year’s eve. Twelve relatives are undergoing treatment at the Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.
“We had left our houses because of the security operation nearly two years ago. We were only going for a wedding function and some of my cousins and I had bought new clothes for it,” said Asif Afridi, 15, who is admitted at the orthopaedic ward of the hospital.
Asif’s legs have been severely injured by the mortal shell and doctors have used external fixation to support his severely damaged bones. The teenager might not be able to walk for one month.
Five-year-old Hamzullah was also one of the victims. “My father brought new shoes and clothes for me for the event,” he said. This moment was more precious than the wedding. Our family had come together after years, said a relative Shah Zer.
We have a tradition that when a girl gets married and visits her mother’s house, all family members go back with her to the in-laws with fruits, clothes and other presents, said another relative Haji Kashmir. “We are already internally displaced and now we are faced with a new problem of having to bear with the expense of treatment.”
Family members say that up till now no government or political administration official has inquired about their wellbeing.
Seven victims are getting treatment at the KTH, while five are admitted at the HMC. Ten-year-old Mustaqim is in the Intensive Care Unit. Doctors say his condition is critical.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2013.
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