PARACHINAR: Business activities came to a standstill after security forces declared the main commercial area of Parachinar as “red zone” following a car bomb blast in the town on March 21.

Punjabi Bazaar, Kurrmi Bazaar and residential areas around the central Imam Bargah have been included in the red zone. Entry of vehicles in the red zone has been stopped. The local residents said that tight security measures in the town, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency, had badly affected commercial activities.

Shopkeepers and daily wagers have started playing cricket on the streets and roads in the red zone. Many businessmen have relieved their daily wagers because customers don’t visit these bazaars and markets owing to checking and other formalities.

“Tight security is now taking toll on the life of local people. That is why shopkeepers have started playing cricket in bazaars,” said Akbar Hussain, a political worker.

He said that there were long queues of vehicles at various checkposts and checkpoints outside the town that added to the miseries of people. A bomb planted in a car ripped through a market outside the central Imam Bargah on March 21 that killed 29 people and wounded around 100 others.

Following the terror incident, law enforcement agencies and political administration adopted severe security measures to prevent such incidents in future.

In this connection, security forces have dug trench around Parachinar and blocked all unfrequented entry points to the town. Under the plan, 24 additional checkpoints are being set up along the security trench. Entry of vehicles has been banned in red zone and only pass-holders are allowed. Tajir Hussain, who is running a workshop in the affected area, said that he relieved four workers after the administration included the street in red zone. “I will shift my business to another area if this situation remains the same,” he added.

Another resident said that administration started issuing entry passes for vehicles but the process was slow.

Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan, when approached, said that security had been beefed up to ensure protection of the citizens. He said that government could not tolerate more bloody incidents in the area. He urged local people to cooperate with the security forces and administration.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2017