Pakistani Representative in an Interview with Mehr: “Parachinar Crime Has Nothing to Do with Shia or Sunni”
Parachinar is the capital of the Kurram tribal region, which is predominantly Shia. The region is located in northwest Pakistan and was merged with other parts of the tribal areas in 2019 into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Terrorist attacks by Takfiri and sectarian elements that have targeted defenseless civilians in the region in recent years have led to the imposition of strict restrictions in Parachinar.
In the latest of these attacks, 44 people, including 39 Shiites, were martyred in an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram district in northwest Pakistan on Friday. According to reports, many of the victims of the incident were women and children. At least 12 others were also injured in the terrorist attack. The identities of the perpetrators of the terrorist incident are still unclear and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Following this terrorist incident, Mehr reporter had an interview with Engineer Hamid Hussain, a member of the Pakistani parliament from Parachinar city, which is explained below:
Tell me about this recent crime, how did it happen?
First, let me say that before this crime, a few months ago, a Sunni convoy was targeted by a terrorist crime in the same place, and more than 30 Sunni people were martyred in that incident. Officers were also present in this convoy.
After that, the Peshawar-Parachinar road was closed. This road had been opened a few weeks ago, and after negotiations between the people of Parachinar and the Pakistani security and government institutions, the people agreed to travel on this road in the form of a convoy and with the army.
This convoy, which was traveling to Peshawar city in private and public vehicles with several security officers, was attacked by terrorists, and as a result, more than 43 people were martyred and many passengers were injured, and none of the officers who were with them to protect the passengers were even injured. Our question is, how did those who were assigned to protect the travelers not get hurt, but so many civilians were killed and injured?
Many things have happened on this road. How do you think this road can be made safe for travelers, especially Shiites?
I have said in the parliament and in meetings I had with security, military, and government officials that this method does not solve the main problem. With this method of sending a few hundred people with only a few officers on this dangerous road, we are increasing our own problems, and this is not the solution. First, they must clear the road itself and its surroundings of terrorists, and if security around the road is ensured, there is no need for security forces to accompany travelers.
What do you think are the factors behind these events?
Look, it is often said that in Parachinar it is a Shia-Sunni issue, while we have been living together for many years and have no problems or issues with each other. In this recent incident, more than 30 people were able to save themselves and escape from the terrorists. These people went to Sunni houses and took refuge there. The Sunni people also sheltered them and were very good hosts to them. Even some of the local people there announced in cyberspace and the media that they had no role in this crime.
So we can say that there is another power with specific goals involved in these crimes that we are still unaware of.
In the media, they announce the clashes in Parachinar over the ownership of a piece of land. Can’t this issue be resolved?
Regarding the dispute over land ownership, I must say that of all these border areas, the only place that has land ownership documents is the Kurram area, where both Shiites and Sunnis live. If the government or security agencies want, they can resolve this issue in a day, because all the necessary documents are available. So these clashes are not over land ownership. There is a power that wants conflict, and in Parachinar, they do not want to resolve it.
What is your main request to the Pakistani government and institutions now? Have the martyrs been buried?
All those who were martyred in the recent incident have been buried, but demonstrations and sit-ins are being held in Parachinar and all over Pakistan. Considering that the army and security forces, who are responsible for protecting the people on behalf of the government, have not been able to do anything, we demand that we should activate local forces consisting of Shia and Sunni youth and expel the security forces, who sometimes take biased actions, from Parachinar.
If you have another point, please tell us.
The solution to all problems is unity and cohesion among Muslims. The Shia and Sunni people of Parachinar should know that there is a power that is pitting us against each other and is exploiting these conflicts for its sinister purposes. So we must be united and recognize the international powers, the domestic powers, and our main enemies, and this is the only way to save us.