KP Govt to classify individuals spreading sectarian hatred as terrorists
Tariq Saeed Peshawar
After fresh bloody sectarian clashes of 11 days that have eaten up 133 people including women and children and caused injuries to around 200 others in the restive Kurram tribal district, finally a ceasefire was brokered between the warring parties on Monday, the Deputy Commissioner Kurram confirmed.
On the other hand the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday announced its decision to declare the individuals responsible for spreading sectarian hatred in the volatile Kurram district as terrorists and to initiate stringent legal action against them.
“Armed tribesmen were removed from the firing posts while police and forces have been deployed in the region,” the DC Kurram Mohammad Javed said Monday without sharing more details. He said Kohat Division elders and parliamentarians would visit Kurram district to ensure a peace agreement between the warring tribes.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 79 deaths in the region between July and October this year, highlighting the persistent instability.
The latest spell of violence, which continued for the 11th consecutive day, has claimed at least 133 lives and injured 186 others as six more individuals lost their lives and eight other sustained injuries in the overnight firing. A 10-day truce was also brokered earlier this week yet there was no letup in the infighting intermittent that made the truce ineffective,
The recent episode of clashes began some 11 days back when unknown miscreants attacked two separate convoys under police escort leaving 52 people including female and children dead and scores others wounded. Since then, violence between the warring clans has escalated, with police struggling to maintain control.
The Kurram region is currently facing a communication blackout, with mobile and internet services suspended and educational institutions closed. The closure of the main highway has not only disrupted local transportation but also caused a complete suspension of trade with Afghanistan, particularly at the Kharlachi border. However, the DC in a statement issued Monday said that the Jirga participants would “speak to elders to reopen roads and sign a peace agreement.” Adding Kohat Division elders and parliamentarians would visit Kurram district to ensure a peace agreement between the warring tribes.
It may be recalled that on Sunday the KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized the need for establishing peace in the area and ordered authorities to demolish dugouts of rival tribes and seize their weapons. The provincial chief executive issued the directives during a grand Jirga, organized in Kohat district, which was attended by elders of the rival tribes.
He also directed the authorities concerned to take measures for the “immediate resettlement” of homeless victims in Kurram. “People’s loss of life and property should be compensated immediately”. The CM ordered the authorities to seize weapons in the possession of the rival tribes immediately adding the administration will keep those weapons in its custody till the time complete peace is restored in the region. The chief minister also called for action, including arrest and registration of cases, against those spreading hatred on social media.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also announced its decision to classify individuals responsible for spreading sectarian hatred in the volatile Kurram district as terrorists, with plans to take stringent legal action against them.
