KARACHI: MWM activists’ 3-day long sit-ins staged all over the Metropolis to register concern apropos killing of Shias in Parachinar* (Kurram), resulted into traffic jams causing inconvenience for commuters on Saturday (28th Dec, 2024). .
Major protests are carried out at the areas where there is a concentration of the members of Shia community. For instance, Numaish Chowrangi (on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road), Abbas Town (on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road), Samama Shopping Center (on University Road), Ancholi (Shahrah-e-Pakistan), and Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad.
Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Surjani Town Road were also blocked. Traffic jams occurred due to closure of Sharea Faisal from Malir to Natha Khan Bridge and double track near Malir 15 bridge. Protesters have also blocked National Highway near Township and Power House Chowrangi. Two way traffic were also allowed on one way roads.
Tribal district Parachinar (in Kurram) that harbours six hundred thousand citoyens, is located near Afghan border. Although due to the synergism of security forces and the tribal elders, magnitude of the bloody skirmishes between Shiaa and Non-Shia tribes shrunk in major part of Kurram, the fighting had claimed eight more lives despite the imposition of ceasefire, as a result the death toll by 1st of December, 2024 climbed to 133.
Government quarters have augmented their efforts to contain the hostility between the warring Shia and non-Shia tribes (belonging to Bagan, Talo Kunj, Badshah Kot, Irfani Kilay Jalamy and Chadrewal areas), it seems impossible to stop those whose relatives have been gunned down in the name of religion or possession of land. It may be recalled that a KP government delegation met the warring
Shia tribesmen as well as Sunni warlords and successfully persuaded the two sides on 24th November for a week-long ceasefire. According to KP chief minister’s adviser on information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a ceasefire was agreed for seven days between the tribes, both of which also decided to return each other’s dead bodies and prisoners.
In what obviously was a sectarian clash, ten unidentified militants fired from both sides of the road at Shia passengers travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar in a convoy consisting 200 vans here on 21st Nov killing 43 Shia men, women, children (as well as cops escorting them) and injuring thirty.
Newspakistan.tv
