Aid convoy halted after Kurram deputy commissioner injured in gun attack

Seven people including deputy commissioner of Kurram District were injured in a terrorist attack on Saturday prompting the authorities to halt a massive aid convoy consisting of 75 vehicles carrying food supplies, medicines and fuel to Parachinar throwing the newly-signed peace agreement into doubt, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Despite the fact that a grand Jirga managed to secure a peace deal between warring factions in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the situation remained volatile as seven people including Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, were seriously injured after they were fired at in Bagan area of Parachinar on Saturday.

Immediately after the incident, the injured deputy commissioner was rushed to tehsil Hospital Alizai from where he was taken CMH Thall, though his condition was stated to be stable. 

Kurram's deputy comm0issioner was wounded "along with two other administration officials, two policemen and two Frontier Corps soldiers", local government official Motasim Billah told AFP. He said the attack took place around 11:00 am (0600 GMT).

The deputy commissioner "came under an attack by unidentified miscreants" but his "condition is out of danger" according to Barrister Ali Saif.

The deputy commissioner has now been shifted to CMH Thall. "The aid convoy has been temporarily halted due to security concerns," he added in a statement.

Saif said a sinister attempt has been made to sabotage the peace of the area and vowed the government will restore peace at all costs.

In a statement, Barrister Saif said he was at some distance from the scene of the incident, rejecting rumours that he was injured in the attack.

“I was there to see off the aid convoy since morning when this unfortunate incident occurred,” he said and added “I was with the deputy commissioner, the commissioner and DIG and other high officials were also present.”

He further said that the situation was under control and the security agencies were on alert. 

Barrister Saif appealed both Sunni and Shia parties to remain peaceful and not fall prey to the conspiracy. He said the convoy has been temporarily stopped, the clearance process was underway and the convoy will be sent again soon.

In another incident reported from Bagan area, militants belonging to the TTP opened fire at a convoy of Pakistan Army.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemns incident

Strongly condemning the incident of firing on a convoy of government officials, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi prayed for the early recovery of the deputy commissioner who was injured in the incident.

He described the incident as a conspiracy to scuttle the peace agreement reached between the rivals. “The miscreants, by attacking the vehicles, have committed an ugly act,” the minister commented. 

A grand Jirga on Wednesday succeeded in securing a peace deal between warring factions after three weeks of efforts to broker a ceasefire.

Kundi says attack shows KP govt’s failure

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the firing on Kurram deputy commissioner and other government officers. 

“Firing on an aid convoy is clear proof of incompetence and failure of the provincial government,” Kundi was quoted as saying in a post on X by PPP.
The governor added that he would pray for the speedy recovery of DC Mehsud.

75-vehicle aid convoy

Following finalization of an agreement between rival sides, peace was expected to be finally returned to Kurram District after 86 days as a 75-vehicle aid convoy was ready to be flagged off to the affected areas through the main highway which was due to be reopened today (Saturday).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif was to green-signal the convoy for its journey to Parachinar Valley.

Sources in the police said the 75 heavy vehicles were carrying food supplies, medicines and fuel. No passenger vehicles were included in the convoy which will travel on Hangu-Parachinar road which was shut down after the violence between rival tribes broke out, the sources added.

Police and militia force personnel will be responsible for the security of the aid convoy.

Peace committees

In line with KP government-led grand jirga’s agreement, local elders and political leaders of Kurram district have constituted peace committees comprising members from both sides. 

On the assurance of peace committees, first aid convoy of vehicles was all set to hit the road to Parachinar from Peshawar.

Under the peace agreement, the local people on both sides have promised to hand over their arms to the local administration within 15 days, while the bunkers will be eliminated in a month. 

In Lower Kurram, peace committee comprises 27 members, including Pir Haider Ali Shah (former MNA), Abi Faizullah, Hussain Ali Shah and Haji Noor Ali and others. 

In Upper Kurram, 48-member peace committee includes Sajjad Hussain Turi (former Centre), Ali Hadi (MPA), Muzamil Shah, Syed Kazim Hussain and others. 

In a related development, a camp set up for Bagan affectees of violence was shut down in Tehsil Thall of Hangu. The affeectees have now started to return to their homes after the peace agreement.

Barri­ster Saif said all arrangements, including security measures were in place for the protection of convoy that is heading to Kurram.

The Thall-Parachinar road, which is district’s main road, has been closed since Nov 21, 2024, when an attack on a convoy left more than 40 people dead in Lower Kurram. The subsequent unrest claimed over a hundred lives, and created a severe shortage of medicines, edibles and other essentials in the remote parts of the district.

KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry called on the peace committees to fully support the government and law enforcement agencies in their efforts. He said both the federal and provincial governments would extend all kind of support to ensure the success of the peace agreement. He also called on the peace committees to ensure that no miscreant could sabotage the convoy or the peace agreement.
 

Reporters Mohsin Shirazi and Awais Kiyani