KURRAM: Residents protested the prolonged closure of roads in the district headquarters Parachinar here on Sunday for the second consecutive day.

They complained that the blockade of roads to and from Kurram for the last five months had left a population of over 0.5 million without access to essential food items and medical care.

The protesters, who staged a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club, stayed put despite fasting amid chilly weather. They included people of all ages, including elderly.

Elders Malik Zartaj, Musarat Bangash and others said that closure of roads for the last five months has deprived not only the city of Parachinar but also over a hundred adjoining villages of food and medical services, causing severe hardships for over 0.5 million residents of Upper and Lower Kurram.

They said the sit-in would continue until the roads are opened.

Theelders regretted the closure of roads in Ramazanand saidthe blockade of rations to residents was particularly distressing, as it had forced them to break their fast with plain water.

They demanded that the roadsbe opened and protected immediately.

In Lower Kurram, too, residents held a protest sit-in, demanding relief for victims of the recent Baganattack and action against culprits.

The district administration said that efforts were being made to open the roads to the relief of the people, ensuring delivery of food items and other essential goods.

President of the Kurram District Bar Association Amir Abbas said in a statement that peaceful protest was people’s right, so police shouldn’t stop residents from exercising that right.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Cohesive response
Updated 14 Mar, 2025

Cohesive response

Solely militarised response has failed to deliver, counterterrorism efforts must be complemented by political outreach in Balochistan.
Agriculture tax
14 Mar, 2025

Agriculture tax

THE changes in the provincial agriculture income tax laws aimed at aligning their rates with the federal corporate...
Closing the gap
14 Mar, 2025

Closing the gap

PAKISTAN continues to struggle with gender inequality in its labour market. A new report by the ILO shows just how...
Shocking ambush
Updated 13 Mar, 2025

Shocking ambush

The sophistication of attack indicates that separatists likely had support from experienced external players.
Suffocating crisis
13 Mar, 2025

Suffocating crisis

THREE of the five countries with the most polluted air on Earth are in South Asia. They include Pakistan, which has...
Captive grid
13 Mar, 2025

Captive grid

IT is a common practice: the government makes commitments with global lenders for their money and then tries to...