Protest erupts over road closure after 50 children die in Parachinar

 

As many as 50 children, suffering from different diseases, have lost their lives in strife-torn Parachinar after they could not be taken to hospitals due to the closure of roads, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Addressing the people, who have been holding a sit-in outside the local press club for the last few days in bitterly cold weather to register their protest against the closure of roads, social worker Asadullah said that the items of daily use, including food items, are not available in the area due to the closure of routes while the gas supply had also stopped, forcing the people to go without food.   

He said the protest would continue until and unless the roads were not reopened for traffic.

On the other hand, sources in Edhi, while confirming the figures of deaths of children as given by the social worker, told 24News TV channel that 31 fatalities had been reported from the DHQ Hospital while at surrounding hospitals.  

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Ali Hadi Irfani, while terming the closure of roads extremely unfortunate, demanded their reopening so that people could be provided foodstuff and items of daily use, including medicines. 

On Saturday, all private and public education institutions were closed in the area on the call given by religious scholars to protest against the closure of roads.

The prolonged road blockades have caused an acute shortage of food, items of daily use, while the non-supply of gas has aggravated the problem in the district. Markets, restaurants, and bakeries remain closed, leaving residents in dire straits.

Headmasters and principals of local schools have now joined the protests, closing all educational institutions to draw attention to the worsening situation.

Speaking at a press conference in Parachinar, religious leaders including Allama Noor Hussain Najafi, Allama Khyal Hussain, Allama Syed Safdar Ali Shah, Allama Iran Ali, and Allama Muhammad Hussain Tahiri, condemned Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif’s statement in which he had refuted reports of children dying due to the non-provision of medical treatment. 

Member National Assembly Hamid Hussain and tribal leader Jalal Bangash also condemned the statement.

Meanwhile, social worker Faisal Edhi, who recently visited the area, described the situation as alarming and said that the residents were facing shortage of food and medicines.

Parachinar has been the victim of sectarian clashes and land disputes for the last several decades.

However, recent incidents, such as attacks on passenger buses in which scores of people had lost their lives, highlighted the gravity of the issue.  

Reporter: Mohsin Sheerazi