PARACHINAR: The year 2017 remained a bloody year for the inhabitants of Parachinar, headquarters of Kurram Agency, as around 132 people were killed and 460 others wounded in five terrorist attacks.

In the previous years, terrorists had carried out 11 bomb attacks that left over 500 dead.

The ratio of fatalities and attacks has dropped drastically after the deployment of Pakistan Army and announcement of Parachinar safe city project, but wounds of the people are yet to heal.

Several victims of terrorism are still under medical treatment with fractured limbs. Among the martyrs were youngsters who left behind parents to mourn and many others widows with infants.

In early 2017, Parachinar witnessed terrorism incidents which dropped considerably by end of the year.

The first major attack of 2017 in Kurram Agency was carried out on Jan 21in the main Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) of Parachinar where 25 people were killed and 87 injured.

On March 31, at least 25 people died and scores of others suffered injuries in a car bomb attack at the entrance of Imambargah specified for women near Noor Market. On April 25, terrorists targeted a moving vehicle carrying local passengers from a nearby Godar village in central Kurram, leaving 14 dead, including women and children.

Parachinar witnessed two back to back blasts on June 23 that hit Turi Market near Thall bus station located just outside the city’s recently designated Red Zone where people were busy in Eid shopping after the Friday prayer.

The second explosion targetted the rescuers and bystanders as they rushed to help survivors of the first blast. A suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body in which over 65 people were killed and over 250 injured.

On the same day, local FC personnel reportedly opened fire on a crowd protesting after the twin blasts.

The firing left four people dead and five others injured. The Turi Bangash staged a sit-in protest for eight days following the two explosions and demanded of the army chief to take notice of the frequent attacks.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2017