Leaders of sit-ins in Kurram, Parachinar arrested

Peshawar: Security forces arrested Haji Karim from the Bagan area of Kurram. According to police, Haji Karim had been leading a protest sit-in in the Mandori and Bagan areas for the past two months.

According to private TV channel, police reported that in a three-day operation, more than 70 individuals were arrested, including over 25 suspected terrorists. During the operation, looted goods from convoys heading to Parachinar were also recovered.

Police have instructed people to place looted goods outside their homes, and a notice has been issued for the evacuation of Bagan, Charkhel, Mandori, and Ochat areas by 10 AM today.

Meanwhile, protests continue in Parachinar against road closures. Social activist Sartaj Ali Sartaj, who was leading a protest sit-in outside the press club, has been arrested. He is disabled due to polio and serves as the chairman of the Ehsaas Welfare Organization. He was demanding the reopening of blocked roads.

Before his arrest, Sartaj Ali told the media that he was trying to bring the voices of the trapped people to the United Nations. He claimed that due to road closures, people were losing their lives due to a lack of food and medical care. Police stated that Sartaj was arrested for blocking the road.

Social leader Mir Afzal Khan stated that five lakh people have been trapped for the past five months due to road closures. There is a severe shortage of food and medical supplies, and the available items are being sold at three times the usual price.

In Lower Kurram, the protest sit-in by Bagan affectees has been ongoing for two months. Tribal leaders insist that the sit-in will continue until their rights are granted and those responsible for the violence are arrested.

During ongoing police operations in Hangu and Kurram, a total of 82 suspects, including dangerous terrorists, have been arrested. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kohat Abbas Majeed Marwat stated that a large cache of weapons was also recovered.

According to police officials, the recovered arsenal includes 81 submachine guns (SMGs), 2 heavy machine guns (HMGs), and other weapons. Looted goods from convoys have also been retrieved and secured in four trucks.

RPO Abbas Majeed Marwat emphasized that operations will continue intensively against convoy looters and attackers, and the road from Tall to Parachinar will be fully secured. He assured that all possible measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the public in Kurram.

Alongside the operation, the demolition of bunkers has also been accelerated following the Kohat peace agreement in Kurram district. Authorities stated that the strongholds of both sides are being dismantled to restore complete peace in the area.

According to the district administration, 117 bunkers in Lower Kurram and 136 in Upper Kurram have been demolished so far, bringing the total to 253. Officials stated that more bunkers will be removed to establish lasting peace in the region.