Kurram, January 7, 2025: Residents of Kurram district remain in urgent need of relief as an aid convoy, scheduled to depart on January 4, remains stranded in Tal due to heightened tensions following last week’s gun attack on Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud. The Tal-Parachinar Road remains closed for the fourth consecutive day, raising concerns that perishable food items in the convoy may spoil.
To ensure the convoy’s safe passage, authorities have imposed a curfew along the route from Chapri Check Post to Tari Mangal. Section 144 has also been enforced across the district. Following the attack that left the deputy commissioner and six others injured, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government temporarily suspended aid to victims of violence in Kurram.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had initially ordered financial assistance for affected residents. A survey covering 90% of households and shops in Bagan was completed to facilitate compensation. However, in response to the attack, financial aid is now conditional on local communities cooperating with the authorities. Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, confirmed that aid would be withheld from non-cooperative communities.
In a meeting held in Kohat on Sunday, government officials demanded that tribal elders hand over those responsible for the attack, warning that monetary aid would be suspended otherwise. Authorities later arrested three tribal elders—Syed Rahman, Saifullah, and Karim Khan—for refusing to sign a peace agreement brokered by the KP apex committee.
Additionally, a case was registered against 200 protesters for blocking the main highway and violating Section 144 during a sit-in outside Parachinar Press Club. The district administration emphasized that restoring transportation routes is a top priority and warned against actions disrupting public order.
Kurram has long been plagued by tribal violence, with tensions escalating since November, resulting in about 140 deaths. Armed clashes involving machine guns and heavy weapons have cut off the region from essential supplies. Despite a truce declared on January 1, an attack on the convoy collecting the first aid delivery since November further delayed relief efforts.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to restoring peace, ensuring stability, and holding perpetrators accountable through strict enforcement of the law.
