KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA – A tragic gun attack on passenger vans in the Ochat area of Lower Kurram region has resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people, including three women, with 11 others injured. The assault occurred on Thursday and has sent shockwaves through the community.
Ahmady Shama Station House Officer Kaleem Shah confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com, which was also echoed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during a press conference outside the Islamabad High Court. “This past week has been difficult and upsetting. Now, 38 people have been martyred in Kurram,” he stated, adding that the federal government is in constant contact with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities to provide necessary support.
KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr. Saif detailed the attack, noting that police were initially targeted before the passenger convoy, consisting of around 200 vehicles, was attacked from both sides. “The district administration and senior police officials were present at the scene,” he said, confirming that an investigation is underway.
Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud reported that two separate convoys, which were part of the Shia community and traveling under police escort, were targeted by the assailants. He mentioned that women and children sought refuge in local homes during the attack, and authorities are actively searching for the attackers.
Earlier reports from Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Alizai indicated that 33 people had died and around 30 were injured, with many being transferred to various hospitals, including some to Peshawar. KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry warned that the death toll could rise as the situation unfolds.
In a strong condemnation of the attack, President Asif Ali Zardari called it a “cowardly and inhumane act” and stressed the need for those responsible to be brought to justice. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the violence, directing that the best medical care be provided for the injured and urging authorities to identify and punish the perpetrators.
“Attacking innocent passengers is brutality,” Sharif stated. He vowed that attempts by anti-national elements to disrupt peace would be thwarted, and that the culprits would be identified and held accountable.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took strict notice of the incident, directing a high-level delegation to visit Kurram to assess the situation. He also called for the reactivation of the local jirga to address ongoing issues and proposed establishing a provincial highways police to enhance security on the region’s roads.
Gandapur announced financial assistance for the families of the victims and expressed deep regret over the targeting of innocent citizens. “Those responsible for this incident will not escape the law,” he asserted.
This incident comes amid a troubling increase in terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, particularly following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in 2022. The recent surge in violence underscores the ongoing security challenges facing the region.
Here are the key points from the news article regarding the gun attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
- Incident Overview: A gun attack on passenger vans in the Ochat area of Lower Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulted in at least 38 fatalities, including three women, with 11 others injured.
- Official Confirmation: The death toll was confirmed by Ahmady Shama Station House Officer Kaleem Shah and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
- Nature of the Attack: Police were initially targeted before the passenger convoy, consisting of around 200 vehicles, was attacked from both sides.
- Targeted Community: The victims were part of the Shia community, and two separate convoys traveling under police escort were attacked.
- Immediate Response: Local women and children sought refuge in nearby homes during the assault. An investigation into the attack is currently ongoing.
- Injury Reports: Initial reports indicated 33 people were killed, with around 30 injured, many of whom were transported to various hospitals, including some to Peshawar.
- Government Condemnations: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, labeling it a cowardly act and emphasizing the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Government Support: Sharif ordered that the best medical facilities be provided for the injured, and Gandapur announced financial assistance for the families of victims.
- Call for Security Measures: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed a delegation to assess the situation and called for the establishment of a provincial highways police to enhance security.
- Context of Increasing Violence: The attack highlights a troubling increase in terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, particularly following a breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in 2022.
