KURRAM: Residents protested the prolonged closure of roads in the district headquarters Parachinar here on Sunday for the second consecutive day.

They complained that the blockade of roads to and from Kurram for the last five months had left a population of over 0.5 million without access to essential food items and medical care.

The protesters, who staged a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club, stayed put despite fasting amid chilly weather. They included people of all ages, including elderly.

Elders Malik Zartaj, Musarat Bangash and others said that closure of roads for the last five months has deprived not only the city of Parachinar but also over a hundred adjoining villages of food and medical services, causing severe hardships for over 0.5 million residents of Upper and Lower Kurram.

They said the sit-in would continue until the roads are opened.

Theelders regretted the closure of roads in Ramazanand saidthe blockade of rations to residents was particularly distressing, as it had forced them to break their fast with plain water.

They demanded that the roadsbe opened and protected immediately.

In Lower Kurram, too, residents held a protest sit-in, demanding relief for victims of the recent Baganattack and action against culprits.

The district administration said that efforts were being made to open the roads to the relief of the people, ensuring delivery of food items and other essential goods.

President of the Kurram District Bar Association Amir Abbas said in a statement that peaceful protest was people’s right, so police shouldn’t stop residents from exercising that right.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2025