THIS is with reference to the report ‘Sit-ins against Parachinar situation expand in Karachi’ (Dawn.Com, Dec 26), which indicated the expanding dimensions of the crisis. The history of land-related conflicts amongst various tribes in Para-chinar spanving over decades has turned into sectarian violence for long, which has so far claimed thousands of lives, including those of women and children. The warring groups have crossed all limits of their inhuman behaviour as humanity seems to be a vanishing entity.

The region faces acute shortage of essential commodities as well as medical facilities, and people over there have been facing fatalities. All they want is peace on a permanent basis. The rule of law and fair administration of justice have become a story of days gone by.

Warring groups have turned the whole city of Parachinar and its surroundings into a war zone, where killing and torching of houses and all other properties have become common for the perpetrators. Such acts are an overt violation of human rights and the Constitution, which gua-rantees the security of life and property to every citizen of the country regardless of cast, creed, social, religious and secta-rian affiliations. The ineffective role of both provincial and federal governments in controlling violence, bloodshed and manifestation of any kind of lawlessness in Parachinar is condemnable, to say the least.

It seems as if Parachinar does not fall within Pakistan. An atmosphere of insecurity, fear and terror prevails there as militant groups continue to enjoy complete immunity to do whatever they like. The federal and provincial governments must act now to bring the warring parties to the table to find a way out of the lingering crisis.

The relevant authorities must strike hard at the root cause of the conflict and take every possible step to create an atmosphere of tranquillity in the region.

Hasan Afzaal
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2024