A deadly shooting targeting passenger vans in the Ochat region of Lower Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claimed the lives of at least 38 individuals, including three women, and left 11 others injured on Thursday, as reported by local authorities.
During a media briefing outside the Islamabad High Court, Kaleem Shah, Ahmady Shama’s Station House Officer, confirmed the toll to Dawn, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed this sentiment.
“This has been a week filled with tragic events, and now we mourn the loss of 38 lives in Kurram,” the minister remarked.
“Every day brings a new tragedy, and we are in continuous communication with local officials, including the KP police chief and the chief minister. The region requires urgent assistance.”
Naqvi expressed solidarity with the province, stating, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an integral part of our nation, and we will not leave them to face these challenges alone.”
According to Barrister Dr Saif, spokesperson for the KP government, the attackers initially targeted police personnel before ambushing the passenger convoy from both sides. The convoy, which consisted of around 200 vehicles, was traveling under police protection.
District officials, including senior police personnel, were present at the scene, and an investigation into the assault is ongoing.
Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner, Javedullah Mehsud, confirmed that two separate convoys of Shia community members, each consisting of roughly 40 vehicles, were attacked by militants.
“Women and children took shelter in nearby homes, and we are actively searching for the perpetrators,” Mehsud told AFP.
He noted that while sectarian violence had occurred before in Kurram, the current attack, which targeted civilians, could not be dismissed as terrorism. Additionally, disputes between local tribes might have played a role in the attack.
Medical officials at Tehsil Head Quarters (THQ) Hospital Alizai initially reported 33 deaths and 30 injuries, with some victims transferred to hospitals in Peshawar for further treatment. KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry cautioned that the death toll could rise.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation. President Asif Ali Zardari denounced the assault as a cowardly act against innocent people and urged that the perpetrators be held accountable.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, calling it an attack on the peace and security of the nation, and ordered that the attackers be identified and brought to justice.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and called for immediate action, instructing a delegation to visit Kurram to assess the situation and submit a report.
He also proposed reactivating the area’s jirga (tribal council) to help resolve tensions in Kurram and recommended the creation of a provincial highways police to improve security across KP.
