DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
Protests against road closures in Kurram district have started to spread. The sit-in in Parachinar has entered its sixth day and road blockades continue in the Kurram tribal district, including Parachinar.
In Parachinar itself, the sit-in on the main Kachehri road, in front of the Press Club, has entered its sixth day.
Parachinar Tehsil president Agha Mazmal declared that the tribal headquarters is under siege. “We cannot travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan. People are trapped here. No one seems to realize that millions of lives are facing serious difficulties right now,” he added.
“It has been almost 78 days since the recent escalation of tensions, and Parachinar is isolated from the rest of the country. If anyone tries to travel out of necessity, they will be killed. We have not even buried two of our people in protest. They both died while traveling “, said.
Agha Mazmal stated that his protest would continue until the issue was resolved. “A large government jirga has arrived and talks are ongoing. We demand that the roads be opened and made safe for travel under any circumstances.
He warned that if the roads to Parachinar were not reopened, they would not remain silent and protests could spread across the country.”
He stated that they have informed the government that if the roads to Parachinar are not reopened in the next 72 hours, highways, expressways, airports and railways will be blocked across the country.
Peaceful protests are currently taking place in several regions of the country to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar. Agha Mazmal concluded that his message is clear: “If the roads to Parachinar are not reopened, all roads in Pakistan will also be blocked.”
In the last cabinet meeting, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government imposed relief emergency in Kurram district due to prevailing law and order situation. The provincial cabinet discussed the security situation and general circumstances in Kurram.
Official sources confirmed that the cabinet approved the imposition of emergency relief for the district. According to sources, relief payments for the dead and injured in Kurram have already been processed.
Road closures in Kurram have led to severe shortages of essential goods in the region, including food, medicine, fuel and LPG.
Supplies have completely run out. Due to lack of fuel, all public and private educational institutions in Upper Kurram have been closed. ATMs have run out of cash, increasing citizens’ anguish.
They have also been forced to close hotels, bakeries and shops selling vegetables and fruits.
Border officials report that there is also no movement across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Kharlachi. Hospitals are facing critical shortages of medicines, resulting in the deaths of patients, including more than 50 children.
