The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Tuesday expressed concern over the civil unrest and armed conflict growing in the tribal district of Kurram, where rival sects resorted to using heavy weapons to target each other across valleys in recent days, leaving at least nine people dead.
In its statement, the HRCP said that violence was being perpetrated by rival sects that have claimed human lives apart from interrupting access to fundamentals such as schools apart from curtailing freedom of movement for all in the valley, in particular the resident Shia community in Parachinar.
"There are also alarming reports of rising militancy feeding into local conflicts," the commission said as it urged the government to immediately intervene and undertake to resolve all sectarian differences peacefully and restore law and order to this region.
"We also remind the state that it pledged to mainstream the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) in 2018 and secure all citizens' right to life and security while providing them access to healthcare, education and livelihoods," the statement said, adding that, "This pledge remains unmet despite the allocation of AIP funds."
READ MORE: Kurram Clashes Claim Two Lives, Injure 8
Violence continues
As social media was flooded with images and videos of bullets and heavy munitions streaking across the night sky of Kurram only to land in balls of fire and the thunder of destruction, at least two more people were reported to have been killed in the ongoing violence on the ground.
Residents say that the dispute began over ownership of a piece of land four days ago in the Boshehra Dandar area. Thus far, a total of nine lives have been lost. At least 42 people have been reported to have suffered injuries on both sides.
The violence has also spread to other parts of the district, including Khar Kallay, Baleshkhel, Pewar, Gidu, Teri Mengal, Karman Para Chamkani, Maqbal and Kunj Alizai.
https://twitter.com/alisalmanalvi/status/1678488800660451333
But with the violence continuing, elders and residents blame the government for failing to maintain peace and protect the lives and property of residents.
They added that the violence had prevented them from accessing food, medicine and fuel, apart from disrupting the supply chain of these items.
https://twitter.com/javidhussainjj/status/1678447886336499719
In its statement, the HRCP said that violence was being perpetrated by rival sects that have claimed human lives apart from interrupting access to fundamentals such as schools apart from curtailing freedom of movement for all in the valley, in particular the resident Shia community in Parachinar.
"There are also alarming reports of rising militancy feeding into local conflicts," the commission said as it urged the government to immediately intervene and undertake to resolve all sectarian differences peacefully and restore law and order to this region.
"We also remind the state that it pledged to mainstream the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) in 2018 and secure all citizens' right to life and security while providing them access to healthcare, education and livelihoods," the statement said, adding that, "This pledge remains unmet despite the allocation of AIP funds."
READ MORE: Kurram Clashes Claim Two Lives, Injure 8
Violence continues
As social media was flooded with images and videos of bullets and heavy munitions streaking across the night sky of Kurram only to land in balls of fire and the thunder of destruction, at least two more people were reported to have been killed in the ongoing violence on the ground.
Residents say that the dispute began over ownership of a piece of land four days ago in the Boshehra Dandar area. Thus far, a total of nine lives have been lost. At least 42 people have been reported to have suffered injuries on both sides.
The violence has also spread to other parts of the district, including Khar Kallay, Baleshkhel, Pewar, Gidu, Teri Mengal, Karman Para Chamkani, Maqbal and Kunj Alizai.
https://twitter.com/alisalmanalvi/status/1678488800660451333
But with the violence continuing, elders and residents blame the government for failing to maintain peace and protect the lives and property of residents.
They added that the violence had prevented them from accessing food, medicine and fuel, apart from disrupting the supply chain of these items.
https://twitter.com/javidhussainjj/status/1678447886336499719