PESHAWAR: The provincial government has formed a special force to ensure traveller security on the main road in Kurram tribal district, the Peshawar High Court was informed during a hearing.

Kurram District Police Officer Malik Habib told Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Inamullah Khan that the Road Protection Force (RPF) comprised around 885 ex-servicemen, 200 police personnel and 10 Federal Constabulary contingents.

The bench directed him to produce a report regarding the latest security situation on the Thall-Parachinar Road by the next hearing on June 9.

It also asked additional advocate general Fazl-i-Mola to submit a report on behalf of the home and tribal affairs secretary about the steps taken by the provincial government on the matter.

Court seeks latest report on Thall-Parachinar road security situation

The directions were issued during a hearing into a petition that sought orders for the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to restore peace in the troubled district besides opening the main artery and providing essential commodities and services to residents.

The petitioner, lawyer Mahmood Ali Turi from Kurram district, requested the court to direct the federal and provincial governments, law-enforcement agencies and other authorities to restore law and order, transport, educational and health services and ensure people’s access to food and other basic necessities of life, including justice, in Kurram district.

He also sought permission for the use of helicopters by civilians, the urgent operationalisation of Parachinar Airport as well as measures to facilitate candidates and students appearing in federal and provincial-level interviews through video-link by restoring the internet service.

The petitioner requested the court to provide interim relief by asking the respondents to submit a preliminary report for ensuring delivery of essential services and basic facilities or at-least transport-service until the disposal of the matter.

The DPO, who appeared before the court via video-link from Parachinar, said the security situation in the district worsened in the past due to sectarian clashes but it had normalised considerably.

Regarding restoration of smooth traffic on Thall-Parachinar Road, he said except for a short patch of the road near Sadda Bypass, the rest was open to traffic.

The DPO said traffic had been diverted from that part of the road.

Counsel for the petitioner Ahmad Farooq Khattak and Ali Azim Afridi appeared along with their client and contended that since the Road Protection Force had been established, that Alizai-Darshoor portion of the road should also be cleared to traffic.

In response, the DPO said that a meeting with all stakeholders was recently conducted but certain security concerns prevented him from allowing traffic on that patch.

He, however, said efforts were being made to clear the road at the earliest.

The respondents in the petition are the federal government through the defence secretary, interior secretary, KP government through its chief secretary, Civil Aviation Authority director general, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman, secretaries of the KP home, food, health, law, elementary and secondary education and higher education departments, and the KP inspector general of police.

The petition, which was filed following the deadly sectarian clashes of Nov 2024 in the district, said that the main grievances of the petitioner included blockade of roads, including the main Thall-Parachinar Road, disruption of day-to-day affairs not restricted to amenities enjoyed by public at large, obstruction of administration of justice, and poor law and order situation in Kurram district.

The petitioner contended that right to life was a fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution but at present, it was almost nil when it came to the day-to-day affairs and smooth functioning of the administration of justice and law and order in the district.

He said that it was the duty of the respondents to ensure public safety, peace and tranquility within the district.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026