CHARSADDA/PESHAWAR: Condemning the killing of innocent people in Kurram district Awami National Party has announced to form a grand jirga to go to Parachinar for easing tensions.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, ANP central president Aimal Wali Khan said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and Kurram in particular were going through a very delicate and painful situation.

He alleged that instead of making efforts to establish peace in the province the PTI government was utilising its resources on organising protests for seeking release of the party founder Imran Khan.

Aimal alleged that peace of Kurram district was being sabotaged under a pre-planned conspiracy, and demanded of the government to immediately convene a joint session of the parliament for a briefing on the situation.

Party also decides to mark black day tomorrow against killings

He said that the bloodbath in Parachinar was a question mark on the performance of the government and its security agencies.

Aimal said the government had failed to fulfil its basic responsibility of protecting the life and property of people.

He said the situation had reached a point that now China had to ask Pakistan to allow it to send its troops in the country to ensure the safety of its citizens.

Meanwhile, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, in a statement issued in Peshawar on Saturday, said that the party would observe a black day on Monday, and protests would be held in front of the press clubs in different districts of the province to express solidarity with the families of those martyred in Kurram district.

“Peace is our need. Everyone has to play a role in stopping the ongoing bloodshed in Kurram,” he said and asked the local elders to play their important role in ending the bloodshed in the tribal district.

Mr Hussain said that terrorism and extremism in any form were not acceptable. “We have fought against terrorism and for establishing peace in the past and will continue to do so,” the ANP leader vowed, and asked his party workers to participate in the black day events to prove that they were peace-loving people.

“Why the FC, police and army fail to protect the convoys of passengers in Kurram. Why the passengers, who were to move on Wednesday, were allowed to leave on Thursday. How is it possible that the militants often disappear after firing bullets in broad daylight,” he questioned.

Mr Hussain said it was clearly terrorism, but attempts were being made to link the tragic incident to sectarianism. He said it was the duty of the government to remove all the doubts of the people by investigating the incident.

He said the province had been left at the mercy of terrorists. “Terrorists are practically ruling the southern districts of KP. The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the policemen have been confined to police stations. Pakhtuns have been burning in the fire of terrorism for the last 40 years,” he lamented.

The seasoned politician said DI Khan, the home district of the chief minister and the governor, had become a no-go area. “The people have no choice but to move out of their native areas.”

Without elaborating, the ANP leader alleged that former ISI chief Gen retired Faiz Hameed was responsible for the current wave of terrorism in Pakhtunkhwa. “Terrorism is being perpetuated in KP under a conspiracy,” he alleged.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024