Irshadullah Khan
PESHAWAR: Leaders, scholars and youth belonging to Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat from Kurram district voiced their concerns over the escalating violence in the region, particularly the recent militant assault on Bagan.
Prominent figures, including Mufti Shah Nawaz, Dr. Abdul Kareem, Khawaja Naheed, Kausar Alam, Shahid Iqbal, and others, spoke at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club and provided detailed accounts of the tragic events unfolding in Kurram.
They referred to the attack on October 12 in the Upper Kurram area of Kunj Alizai, where they alleged a convoy of Sunni Maqbal tribe was ambushed. The assault resulted in the killing of women, children and scholars.
The attackers had been identified, and their names shared with the Anjuman Hussainiya. However, despite this, the local authorities failed to apprehend the culprits.
The conference also drew attention to the attack on November 21 when another joint convoy in Lower Kurram was targeted, resulting in 42 fatalities from both sides.
The violence escalated the following day, on November 22, when thousands of terrorists launched a coordinated attack on Bagan, setting fire to 700 shops and 1,500 homes and committing atrocities against women, they added.
Tragically, 30 individuals, including doctors, watchmen, elderly, and disabled persons, were burnt alive, they said.
The attackers also looted and torched shops in Bagan Bazaar, collaborating with commanders of banned militant groups.
A peace agreement between the Sunni and Alizai Shiite communities in Bagan had been in place at the time, but it was ignored during the attack. Victims of the violence expressed frustration at the lack of government aid, revealing that they had been forced to live under the open sky in harsh cold conditions.
They further highlighted the disparity in relief efforts, noting that while Parachinar residents received aid via helicopters, no such assistance had been provided to those affected in Bagan.
They also highlighted the dire situation in Upper Kurram, where residents have been trapped for two months without access to basic necessities. The government had decided to launch an operation against weapons and terrorists in Kurram, which the Sunni community fully supported, they noted.
However, the opposing faction rejected the proposal, refused to collect weapons, and began holding protests across the country.
The representatives of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat called for the immediate acceptance of the apex committee’s decisions and urged the government to carry out a comprehensive operation against weapons in Parachinar.
The ultimate goal, they emphasized, is to restore peace in Kurram and ensure the safety of roads and convoys for the people of the region.
