PESHAWAR, April 11: National Awami Party Pakistan (NAPP) General Secretary Abdul Lateef Afridi on Monday expressed concern over growing sectarian ten-sion in Kurram Agency and urged the government to take precautionary measures to avert clashes in the area. He said in a statement issued here that some extremist elements wanted to create a law and order situation on the eve of Eid Milad-un-Nabi in the agency.

He said that due to mounting tension and fear, people of were stocking food items, while the extremists were stockpiling arms and ammunition.

The National Awami Party Pakistan leader said that most of the local people were peace loving but a few miscreants had taken the people hostage.

He said the agency’s political administration had failed to resolve the issue.

A sectarian group in the agency has warned it would not allow its opponents to take out the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession in Parachinar unless the local administration gave a guarantee that its participants would not raise what it called objectionable slogans. The rival group insists that it will take out the procession as planned.

Mr Afridi said the four parliamentarians from the agency had suggested to the administration to ban the procession in the city and persuade people through their elders to hold rallies at the local level.

He urged the NWFP governor to take measures to avert any sectarian clash and take stern action against extremists in the area.