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Gun Attack in KP’s Kurram Region Claims 38 Lives; Government Vows Action
Tragedy in Lower Kurram: 38 killed, including women and children, in a heinous gun attack on passenger vans. Authorities vow justice for victims.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-21
Gun Attack in KP’s Kurram Region Claims 38 Lives; Government Vows Action

A devastating gun attack in the Ochat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Kurram district claimed at least 38 lives and left 11 others injured on Thursday, as reported by police. The victims included women and children traveling in a convoy of passenger vans.

Ahmady Shama Station House Officer (SHO) Kaleem Shah confirmed the toll, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the past week as "difficult and upsetting." Speaking outside the Islamabad High Court, he assured support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, emphasizing that no province would be left behind in the fight against terrorism.

Details of the Attack
The convoy, comprising around 200 vehicles, was traveling under police escort when it was ambushed. According to KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr. Saif, police personnel were attacked first, followed by a coordinated assault on the convoy from both sides.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud revealed that the attackers targeted two convoys carrying members of the Shia community. Women and children sought refuge in nearby homes as the chaos unfolded. The DC added that while sectarian violence has occurred in the area before, the scale of this attack suggests terrorism may also be involved.

Medical officials reported the injured were being transported to hospitals across the district and to Peshawar, while KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry warned the death toll could rise.

Condemnation and Government Response
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. President Asif Ali Zardari called it a "cowardly and inhumane act," urging swift justice for the perpetrators. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, directing authorities to provide the best medical care to the injured and to identify and punish the attackers.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced financial assistance for the victims’ families and stressed the need for enhanced security. He directed provincial officials to assess the situation in Kurram and revive the area’s jirga system to restore peace.

Rising Terrorism in the Region
The attack underscores a sharp increase in terrorist activities in KP and Balochistan. Violence has escalated since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022, with militants targeting security forces and civilians.

The military and law enforcement agencies have intensified operations in response. However, incidents like the Kurram attack highlight the ongoing challenges in securing the region and protecting its residents.

The government has reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism and restoring peace. Investigations into the Kurram attack are ongoing, with officials vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

 

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Tagged:

AntiTerrorism

ArmedForces

PakistanSecurity

KurramAttack

KPViolence

JusticeForKurram
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