PESHAWAR: Following a direct attack on a convoy carrying relief goods to Parachinar that left deputy commissioner Javed Mehsud and six others injured, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a series of tight security measures to restore peace, law and order in the Kurram tribal district. .

The shooting of a peaceful convoy carrying humanitarian supplies from Thall to Parachinar on January 4 drew widespread condemnation from civil society, politicians, journalists, religious leaders and tribal elders, who described it as an attempt to sabotage peace efforts in Kurram.

The attempted suicide attack, which took place in the Bagan area of Lower Kurram on Parachinar-Thall Road, escalated tensions in the area, prompting high-level government officials to convene an emergency meeting in Kohat, which took a number of key decisions to restore law and order.

In a bid to restore peace and security in restive Kurram, the KP government has vowed to take decisive action with tight security measures aimed at both bringing those responsible to justice and preventing further violence in the restive region bordering Afghanistan.

An official statement issued by the KP government revealed that at a high-level meeting of government bodies held in Kohat last night, it was decided to name the attackers and their facilitators in the FIR.

The culprits will face charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATC) and that those arrested will additionally be added to the Schedule IV list, which includes people considered threats to national security.

The KP government has also made it clear that the tribal elders of both sides who signed the peace agreement will be held accountable for the attack on the peace convoy including DC Kurram.

The tribal and jirga elders were instructed to cooperate with the KP Govt authorities and hand over the perpetrators of the January 4 assault or else strict action would be taken at the scene of the incident.

If the elders did not comply, the government would be left with no option but to directly arrest the culprits and strict administrative action would be taken on critical routes like the Thall-Parachinar and Torawrai-Shahsu roads.

In addition, the government threatened to stop all aid and financial assistance to the area in case of non-cooperation. In addition to the measures mentioned above, the government will take strong action against all actors found to be inciting sectarianism and inciting violence in addition to provocative speeches.

A possible operation in the affected area is being considered if the accused are not immediately handed over to the authorities by the tribal and jirga elders.

Also at play is strict enforcement of security protocols, such as a curfew on Thall-Parachinar for convoy movements and designation of armed individuals as terrorists.

As the KP government is determined to restore peace in the region and implement the recent decisions of the KP Apex Committee, the officials stressed that the violence witnessed in Kurram during this difficult period cannot be tolerated any longer.

Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, former Inspector General of Police, stressed that a crackdown on Bagan is imminent unless tribal elders and peace negotiators ensure the real culprits are handed over to the government.

He supported the imposition of curfew along the Thall-Parachinar road during a convoy carrying humanitarian goods and medicines unless security is fully restored, which he described as a positive step to restore law and order.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Peshawar on Monday where he met Deputy Commissioner Javed Mehsud and other injured FC personnel who were injured in the attack.

Accompanied by Muhammad Ali Shah Bach, provincial president of the Pakistan People’s Party, the governor wished the injured a speedy recovery and praised Mehsud’s devotion to duty.

He also met the families of the injured officers and appreciated their bravery in the face of adversity.

Experts said the government’s strong response underscores its firm commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Kurram as it seeks to address growing security concerns and ensure the safety of both rescue efforts and local communities.

Experts reiterated that the firing on the convoy was tantamount to sabotaging the peace accord recently signed by the rival parties and depriving the Kurram tribal district of development.

They said a big responsibility rests on the shoulders of local tribal elders and jirga members to keep a close eye on their surroundings and inform the government authorities when they see the movement or presence of any suspicious elements in their areas so that immediate action is taken against them.