Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s main secretary Shahab Ali Shah said on Friday that up to 48 “malefactors” allegedly involved in recent acts of violence and instability in the Kurram district have been arrested so far in action against disruptive elements.
Since October of last year, 189 people have died in several clashes, and a peace agreement was signed as a result of government efforts to control the situation. A total of nine convoys that comprise 718 vehicles that transport essential goods have been sent to the area, while the attacks and raffle of the convoys have continued incessantly.
On Monday, more than 30 trucks transported food supplies to Kurram were looted while 19 trucks caught fire after the convoy was attacked in the areas of Bagan, Charkhel, Ochat and Mandori. Several people, including security personnel and drivers, lost their lives in the incident. At least 30 criminals and facilitators were rounded during an operation launched by security forces in Lower Kurram on Thursday.
A statement issued today said that the main secretary of KP and the Police General Inspector (IGP) visited Kohat to preside over a high -level meeting on the situation in Kurram that finally decided that operations against terrorist elements involved in recent incidents would still intensify further.
“We have arrested 48 people involved in recent incidents,” said the main secretary.
Shah promised that no one would be allowed to interrupt the law and order and that peace would be restored at all costs to improve the life of common people, since peace and order were a priority for their prosperity.
“Strict measures will also be taken against the facilitators of criminals. Measures will also be taken against those who cooperate with criminals. Indiscriminate measures will be taken against the enemies of peace and its facilitators. Those who protect terrorists will also be taken before justice.
“Nobody will be allowed to challenge the State’s court order. A zero tolerance policy against criminal facilitators will be adopted. Some elements are enemies of the prosperity of the people of Kurram. The conspiracy elements do not want the development of the people of Kurram and [we] Foura will each conspiracy against the people of Kurram, ”said the main secretary.
Shah praised the efforts of the KP Police, Pakistan’s army and other forces that “fought bravely” to maintain peace in the region. “The soldiers … are firm on each front and their sacrifices in the war on terrorism are unforgettable,” he said.
After months of violence, a peace agreement was signed between the sides at war in Kurram on January 1. Despite a pause in the fight, the route that connects to Parachinar with the rest of the province remained blocked.
As part of the peace agreement, the KP Apex committee decided to dismantle all bunkers in the Kurram district in an attempt to restore peace in the area. On Monday, the KP government said more than 150 bunkers were demolished in Kurram, with a deadline established for the demolition to be completed before March 23.
The KP government had also announced a new operation against militants in Kurram after five security officials were martyred in multiple attacks on Monday.
Given the situation, the KP government decided to launch another operation in the areas of Mandori and Ochat to “clear them from criminals,” said the provincial government spokesman, lawyer Muhammad Ali Saif, had said after the attack.
The decision to launch the action was taken at a night meeting chaired by KP Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
