August 17, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 14, 1429

PARACHINAR, Aug 16: At least 36 people were killed and 39 others were injured in daylong clashes between two warring groups in different parts of the Kurram Agency on Saturday.

There were reports that a large number of militants had entered the agency from North Waziristan spreading the fight to more areas.

The two groups have been using missiles, mortar shells, machineguns and rockets against each other as intense fighting continues in Jelamy, Bagzai, Sadda, Balish Khel, Khwar Kiley Sangina, Para Chamkani and Pewar areas.

Despite a 72-hour deadline given by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik clashes were continuing on full scale.

The 18-month old conflict between the two groups has destroyed peace in the agency.

The Parachinar-Peshawar road is closed for 11 months, cutting off some 500,000 residents from the rest of the country.

In addition to food items, Parachinar town is also facing a shortage of medicines. At least two children died as they could not be administered required medicines.

A former MNA from Kurrum, Munir Said Mian, called upon the government to provide food items to displaced and affected people.

According to reports, the militants who entered the agency from North Waziristan set two villages on fire.

Addressing a news conference, a community leader Allama Nawaz warned of dire consequences if the outsiders were not stopped from killing people.

He said the deadline set by Rehman Malik to stop fighting was a mockery of the rule of law. He demanded that the government should take action against militants coming from Sadda, Qayyum Pir, Bagzai, Shasho and Bagan areas.