At least 50 people were killed in a gun attack carried out on passenger vans in the Ochat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s lower Kurram region on November 2, according to the police. The toll is likely to be much higher as details emerge, a senior government official said. According to some local journalists, the attack was carried out in an area which is dominated by the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Ahmady Shama Station House Officer Kaleem Shah had said initially that 38 people were killed, including three women, and 11 were injured. However, it is believed that the toll may be much higher as over 200 vehicles were there in the convoy which was targeted. Armed men, most likely Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadres opened fire at the vehicles from hills near the road. This is clearly a sectarian attack as barring a few policemen escorting the convoys, all those killed were Shias.
After incidents of firing on passenger vehicles last month, the main Parachinar-Peshawar and other routes had been closed owing to fear of more such incidents, as violence continues to haunt the region, according to a report of the News International.
Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said that “two separate convoys of members of the Shia community’’ … were targeted by the terrorists in the Kurram district. The convoys had been travelling under police protection, according to officials.
“This past week has been difficult and upsetting, now 38 people have been martyred in Kurram,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said outside Islamabad High Court. “We see a new incident every day now and are in constant contact with the KP authorities, KP inspector general of police and the chief minister. They need help.’’
Providing details of the incident, KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Saif said police personnel were attacked first, and then the passenger convoy was targeted from both sides. “Around 200 vehicles were in the convoy,” he said.
Earlier, Tehsil Head Quarters (THQ) Hospital Alizai Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Ishaq said 33 people were killed and 30 injured, adding that the latter were being referred to various hospitals in the district and some to Peshawar.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the incident and expressed his condolences to the bereaved of the deceased. “Attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act,” he was quoted as saying in a post on X by PPP’s media cell.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered that the best medical facilities be provided to the people injured in the attack in a statement condemning the attack. He issued a directive to identify the attackers and punish them.
“The enemies of the peace of the country attacked the convoy of innocent citizens which is tantamount to brutality. All attempts of anti-national elements to destroy the peace of the beloved country will be thwarted.
“The evil elements involved in the incident will be identified and punished accordingly. Saboteurs cannot demoralise the brave Pakistani nation by such cowardly actions,” he said.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took strict notice of the incident and also condemned it. He directed a delegation comprising the chief secretary, provincial law minister and the area’s MNA and MPA to visit Kurram immediately and personally assess the conditions there and submit a report.
The chief minister also called for the area’s jirga to be reactivated to improve the situation in Kurram. “Work should be done to establish a provincial highways police to secure all highways in the province,” CM Gandapur said.
Announcing financial assistance for the families of those killed in the attack, CM Gandapur said targeting innocent citizens was “extremely regrettable and condemnable”.
“The elements involved in the incident cannot escape the clutches of the law,” he vowed.
It has been several months since the district is marred with clashes between various tribes and parties. The clashes have claimed dozens of lives.
The violence has led to frequent closure of main and link roads as well as border with Afghanistan, causing immense troubles for the local residents.
The area elders have said that continuous closure of main and link roads would lead to massive humanitarian crises due to acute shortage of edibles, medicines, petrol and diesel reserves in District Kurram.
Tribal elders from the Turi and Bangash tribes have expressed concern that the continuous closure of roads has caused shortage of food and fuel supplies, raising the fear of a major humanitarian crisis.
They said that suspension of 3G and 4G services had also caused distress for students and citizens, affecting studies and businesses alike in the area.
At least 18 security personnel were killed after a check-post was targeted in the Mali Khel area of KP’s Bannu district on Tuesday.
