2000-11-30

Parachinar residents seek security

ISLAMABAD, April 25: After waiting for five years to visit his hometown, Ali Mohammad returned to the country from UAE last month, but all that was received by the family was his burned corpse, released three days back by suspected Taliban commanders after negotiations.

He along with 33 other passengers was kidnapped while going to Parachinar from Peshawar. Of them 13 were burned and maimed and thrown on the roads. The fate of the rest is still unknown.

Like rest of the family members the excitement of Saqib Hasan faded away when he received the body of his cousin Ali Mohammad.

In sheer frustration and anger against the authorities, Saqib arrived in the federal capital on Monday to participate in the protest demonstration and sit-in at the Parliament against Taliban brutalities.

The participants narrated tales of sufferings faced by their family members at the hands of Taliban who have blocked the road leading to Parachinar, creating severe shortage of fuel, food and medicines in the area.

"My brother's leg had to be amputated only because he could not receive medical care in time," said one protester, adding,
"Six of my cousins have been killed by Taliban in last four years."

Speakers at the protest held in front of National Press Club said Taliban were creating unrest in the region.

The organiser of the protest Sajid Hussain Bangash said more than 2,200 Turi and Bangash tribesmen have been killed and over 5,000 injured by the Taliban in four years.

Later residents of Parachinar staged a a token sit-in at D-Chowk opposite to the Parliament House.

In his speech, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, expressed sympathies with the residents of Parachinar.

"Our party will take up the issue with the president, prime minister and the interior minister," he added.

Sajid Turi, MNA from the area announced to leave his seat in protest if the authorities failed to implement the peace accord between the Shia and Sunni tribes.

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