At least 42 people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of Shiite pilgrims in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, authorities in the rebel Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said.
A woman and a child were among those killed in Thursday’s attack in Kurram tribal district, police said on Friday.
Sectarian violence between Shiites and Sunnis over land disputes has escalated in the Kurlam region, which borders Afghanistan, since July.
Gunmen opened fire on two separate convoys of Shiite pilgrims traveling with police escort in Quram.
In response to this terrorist attack, Mehul News Agency requested an interview with Hamid Hussain, a member of the Pakistani parliament from Parachinar city.
Hamid Hussein said that several months ago, a Sunni convoy was targeted by terrorists at the same location, and more than 30 Sunnis were martyred in the incident.
The road between Peshawar and Parachinar was opened a few weeks ago, and after negotiations between Parachinar residents and Pakistani security and government agencies, residents decided to travel along the road in convoys accompanied by the military. He said he agreed.
The convoy, which was headed to Peshawar in private and official vehicles carrying several security personnel, was attacked by terrorists, leaving more than 43 people martyred and many passengers injured. None of the police officers involved were injured.
Hussein said the question was why nothing was done to those tasked with protecting the passengers when so many civilians were killed or injured.
Replying to this question on how this road can be made safe for travelers, especially Shias, he said that first of all terrorists must be removed from the road itself and its surroundings, adding that security around the road must be ensured. It added that there was no need for security forces to deploy security forces. Accompany the traveler.
Regarding the factors behind these terrorist attacks, Mr. Hussein said that the alleged sectarian issue between Shia and Sunni is not a problem in the region, but another one with specific objectives that we do not know about. He pointed out that the armed forces were involved in these crimes.
Media reports say the conflict in Parachinar is over land ownership. On this issue, the Pakistani parliamentarian said that among all these border areas, the only place with land ownership documents is the Kurram region, which is inhabited by both Shias and Sunnis.
He said that the government and security agencies could resolve the issue in a day if they wanted, as all the necessary documents were in place, adding that these disputes were not over land ownership and that Parachinar had no desire to have any disputes. He added that there are forces that exist.
Given the inability of the military and security forces, which are responsible for protecting the people on behalf of the government, Hussein said local forces made up of Shiite and Sunni youth should expel security forces from Parachinar. He said that.
He stressed that the solution to all problems is unity and unity among Muslims, adding that the Shia and Sunni people of Parachinar are using these conflicts for evil purposes by setting the two sides against each other. He added that people should be aware of the existence of these forces.
“We must unite and know our international forces, our domestic forces, and our main enemy. That is the only way to save us,” he stressed.
SD/6295572