Tribals' sit-in in Mandori, Tal-Parachinar highway still closed

Kurram: The protest of the Vatizai tribe in the Lower Kurram Mandori area of ​​​​the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is continuing for the 16th day today, due to which the convoy in Tal has not yet been able to leave, while the Parachinar-Tal highway is also still closed for all types of traffic.

According to the details, citizens are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of the routes. The police said that the convoy would be sent to Parachinar as soon as the routes were cleared. Due to the protest, the Tal-Parachinar main highway, as well as the roads of Tri Mangal, Ghozgarhi, and Bushehra, are still closed.

The protesters said that the protest will continue until their demands are met including declaring Bagan a disaster area and redressing the damages.

Due to the protest, the food convoy in Tal has not yet been able to leave. Negotiations between the administration and the protest participants are expected again, if successful, a food convoy will be sent to Upper Kurram.

It is pertinent to note that at least 500 trucks of supplies are required to alleviate the problems of the people of Kurram.

According to Medical Superintendent Dr Syed Mir Hassan Jan, medicines have run out in medical stores and the people have turned to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).

On the other hand, the police have said that steps are being taken to make the highways safe.

Notably, a week ago, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, two FC and police personnel, and three passersby were injured in an attack on the police and FC and firing on a vehicle in the Lower Kurram area of ​​Kurram Agency.

After the incident, more troops were called in and the area was cordoned off.

It should be noted that 50 people were killed in firing on a passenger convoy in the Bagan Charkhel area on November 21, after which the situation became tense in the Upper Kurram, Bagan, and Parachinar areas of Kurram Agency, during which several people were killed in armed clashes between the parties.

Two days ago, a peace agreement was reached between the parties through the efforts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and local tribal elders, after which this morning the provincial government sent 75 trucks of relief supplies to Kurram. The Deputy Commissioner went to restore the roads for the same relief convoy and himself became the target of firing.