April 11, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 22, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, April 10: A ruling party MNA from Kurram Agency has called upon President General Musharraf to deploy army to the troubled area, warning that if it is not done sectarian clashes will engulf the entire country.

“The continuing bloodshed between two sectarian groups is spreading and violence is steadily gripping the border areas,” MNA Dr Javed Hussain told Dawn on Tuesday.

He said that rival groups were targeting even innocent children and women and the use of heavy weapons could lead to an uncontrollable situation for law-enforcement agencies.

The MNA said that the political administration and the Frontier Constabulary (FC) were also waiting for deployment of army to help them control the situation in the agency.

“Children and teachers cannot go to schools because they are targeted and men cannot travel to working places,” Dr Hussain said.

“Some anti-state elements are adding fuel to the fire by spreading sectarian hatred. But it is our responsibility to discourage wrong-doers by developing understanding between warring groups,” he said.

Amanullah Kasi adds from Quetta: Elders of the Bangash tribe have blamed Afghan refugees settled in Kurram Agency for violence in Parachinar.

They said that Bangash and Turi tribes belonging to Shia and Sunni sects, respectively, were living peacefully in the area for centuries.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club on Tuesday, Syed Hamid Al-Hussani and Riaz Hussain said that trouble started between both major sects after emergence of Taliban in Afghanistan.

They said that the conflict had claimed thousands of lives in Kurram and Orakzai agencies and Hangu and Kohat districts.

They said that enemies of Islam and Pakistan had been attempting to pit Bangash and Turi tribes against each other to divide them on the sectarian basis.