PESHAWAR/KURRAM: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Sunday decided that the signatories of the Kurram peace agreement would be responsible for the implementation of a peace agreement in the restive Kurram district.
The government called on all signatories to hand over the perpetrators of the January 4 attack; Otherwise, the government will take action to arrest the culprits, according to an official statement.
The provincial government also warned that until the accused and those who encouraged the attack on Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javedullah Mehsud on January 4 were handed over to the government, compensation and assistance would be stopped in the area where the attack took place.
The statement was issued following a high-level meeting in Kohat district chaired by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
The meeting on the security situation in Kurram, the attack on deputy commissioner Mehsud on January 4 and the detention of a convoy of trucks loaded with medicines and other essential items sent to Kurram were also attended by KP chief secretary and chief of police
According to the statement, the government decided that apart from lodging FIR under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the names of those responsible for the attack would also be included in the Schedule IV list, adding that strict administrative measures would be taken regarding Thall-Parachinar . and the Tora Warai-Shasho roads.
In the meeting it was decided that transportation of goods convoys would begin soon and section 144 would be imposed in Kurram district along with a curfew on roads during movement of convoys.
“Anyone carrying weapons will be considered a militant,” the meeting decided, adding that in case of further violations and lack of cooperation in handing over those involved in the attack, residents of the area where the attack took place would be temporarily relocated for a time. . authorization operation, if necessary.
The meeting decided that resources would be provided to the Kurram district police officer, including riot gear and women police officers, adding that the police would remove any illegal blockade or crowd on the Thal-Parachinar highway.
The meeting decided that the Thall-Parachinar highway would be opened for transport soon.
KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the government would take it seriously if the deputy commissioner was attacked. “The government order has been questioned and this will be taken as seriously as possible,” Saif told Dawn.
In another development related to the attack on Mr Mehsud, local police claimed to have arrested two people named in the FIR. Both accused were arrested at Alizai Hospital, police said.
Meanwhile, a sit-in in front of the Parachinar Press Club was cancelled. However, the khateeb of Jamia Masjid, Allama Fida Muzahiri, warned that the sit-in would be announced again if their demands were not met. “The decision to call off the sit-in was made in the broader national interest,” he said.
Furthermore, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) filed an FIR under sections 324, 353, 427, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and nominated five persons for his alleged participation. when shooting at the deputy commissioner.
According to the FIR, 25 to 30 unknown militants opened indiscriminate fire leaving Mr. Mehsud, constable Misal Khan and border police personnel Rahimullah, Rizwan and Nazar Baz seriously injured.
The KP government has also imposed a ban on display of weapons and illegal gatherings due to law and order situation in Kurram for 60 days.
A notification issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Tribal Affairs said that the provincial government had come to know through various reliable sources that some disgruntled groups under the gaze of militants would take advantage of the turbulent situation to perpetuate their evil designs and further vitiate the atmosphere. of the district.
He said that in the current precarious situation, gatherings of more than five people and display of weapons could further disturb public peace and tranquility, considering the current law and order situation and security environment.
“Now, therefore, I, Muhammad Abid Majeed, Additional Chief Secretary, KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department, on behalf of the Provincial Government, in exercise of the power vested in the Provincial Government under Section 144 (Clause 6) of the Code. of the Criminal Procedure, 1898, we hereby prohibit and impose a ban on all types of activities including display of arms and illegal assembly due to law and order situation in Kurram district,” the notification said.
He said anyone contravening the order could be prosecuted under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code, adding that “the order will come into force immediately and will remain in force for two months from today.” [Sunday] unless earlier modified or withdrawn.”
Published in Amanecer, January 6, 2025.
