July 31, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

PESHAWAR, July 30: The political authorities in Kurram Agency have arrested 80 persons in Parachinar where curfew remains imposed for the last two days without relaxation amidst a continuing operation against wanted tribesmen, sources said.

The curfew has caused acute shortage of food and other commodities in the western border town, home to about 35,000 people, residents told Dawn by telephone from the troubled area.

Sources said the law enforcing agencies had arrested around 80 persons, including 24 ‘wanted’ tribesmen since the authorities imposed curfew in the town on Monday night after angry tribesmen smashed public property to protest against the murder of a driver by the agency levy force. The death of the tribesman caused disturbance in the area.

“Residents are experiencing harsh treatment at the hands of paramilitary forces who have arrested more than 50 persons on curfew violation charges,” a source said.

The paramilitary forces were patrolling the streets of the town and people were not allowed to come out of their homes and security forces closed Tall-Parachinar Road for all sorts of traffic, he said.

Sources said the authorities had sent 24 wanted tribesmen to central prison Dera Ismail Khan who had been arrested under 40 Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). The paramilitary forces were still raiding houses in the town to arrest the wanted persons, they said.

They said the administration were making preparations to start house demolition operation in Ahmadzai village, some 10 kilometres south of Parachinar town.

Attempts made by this correspondent to contact the agency’s political agent or any other senior official went without success. No press note has either been issued so far.