PESHAWAR: In almost four decades of his active political life, Awami National Party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain visited Kurram Agency for the first time and it was a mutual pain for the victims of terrorism that took him there.

Both the politician and the tribal people were fighting the same enemy -- terrorism.

Mr Hussain, who also lost his only son Mian Rashid Hussain some seven years ago for openly opposing terrorism and terrorist outfits, was warmly welcomed by the locals of Parachinar. Almost each Turi-Bangash tribe family in the small town of Parachinar was affected by twin bombings on June 23 -- the last Friday of Ramazan. The two bombings took 75 precious lives, injured more than 200 and changed lives of many left behind forever.

“I had gone as a student leader stealthily to tribal areas but it was my first time to openly walk among the people, visit markets and even attend a condolence meeting at Imambargah,” the ANP leader told Dawn on his return from Parachinar.

Locals warmly welcome Mian Iftikhar Hussain during his visit to Parachinar

Mian Iftikhar, who added ‘Hussain’ himself to his name while enrolling in school at the age of five, said that he could associate with the people of Parachinar because he had seen the devastation a terrorist bomb blast brings with it.

He could not reach Parachinar right after the tragic event to console the mourning families that had gone on a sit-in for seven days when rest of the country was observing Eidul Fitr. He finally made it to the tribal agency when the local authorities allowed him entry to the tribal region.

It is pertinent to mention here that politicians hailing from Pakistan Peoples’ Party were also denied entry to join the sit-in of the locals earlier. Only Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was flown to the sit-in and he spoke there.

It was only after assurances of Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa with the protesters that let led to end of the sit-in. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also sent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra with compensation checques to Parachinar.

All this while when the social media was buzzing with these visits and their details, Mr Hussain got green signal from local authorities and rushed in to the area. Unlike political leaders or government functionaries, he walked among them, visited the bombing site, went to shops to offer Fateha and console bereaving families.

The Khateeb of Mosque at Parachinar Allama Fida Muzahiri, thanking Mr Hussain on behalf of the people of Parachinar, acknowledged that only he could understood the pain they were feeling since the tragedy left them not only hurt but federal government’s apathy angered them too.

“The people of Parachinar are brave for they are the ones, who fought Taliban and did not let them take away their area. They stood up to terrorists and now all the government needs to do is to show its support to them,” said the ANP leader. He felt that giving sectarian colour to whatever happened in Parachinar was wrong.

“Whether situation is bad in Pakistan or Afghanistan, the people of Parachianr can easily get into trouble due to their geographic location,” he said. He said that if the area was provided foolproof security, the rest of the country would be secure. The area is sensitive but Mr Hussain said that he envied the unity and brave stance of the people of Parachinar against terrorism.

“As we were walking towards the Imambargah, people started to gather up and converged into a rally. It was indeed a rare moment for me to walk so freely while being among people,” said Mr Hussain, who himself has been issued numerous warnings of attempts on his life.

“It was my first open visit to tribal area of Parachinar. It turned out to be a public contact meeting although I went to offer my condolences to the families of the victims and injured,” he said. He added that he found out that the people of Parachinar were so brave and all they needed was just assurance of protection from the government otherwise they were patriotic and brave enough to protect their soil.

Our Correspondent Hussain Afzal from Parachianr adds: Mian Iftikahr Hussain visited Parachianr Hospital along with his party leaders from the area and enquired after the health of the injured of June 23 twin blasts.

He met many affected families and showed sympathy with them. He also went to the local Imambargah where he condemned the killing of the fasting people in the terrorist attack. He said that he stood with them in that hour of grief.

Mr Hussain criticised government for providing different amount of money as compensation to the people of tribal areas and those living in other provinces hit by terrorism.

He said that terrorists had no religion so government should eliminate them without any differentiation of good or bad.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2017