Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Hidden Truth about Parachinar!

Hidden Truth about Parachinar!


Sarwan Ali-an honest man, is a retired Lance Naik from the village Malana in the outskirt of Parachinar and has been living with his wife in a single room. Not any more. Now, he is fighting for his life in Agency HQ Hospital, Parachinar, from a gunshot wound. Wounds inflicted from bombs, snipers, splinters and guns have become part of daily life in Kurrum agency mostly linked to sectarian strife. But his wound is different. He was not shot by the opposing group for his affiliation to any sect. His is a self inflicted wound. Reason? Before the sectarian conflict, he would go to Parachinar and work on ‘Dhiari’ (daily wages) to earn enough to sustain himself and his wife. After the escalation in war, situation has changed dramatically. In a short span, the death toll has reached hundreds and the injured thousands. The prices of daily commodities have rocketed sky-high as the only road linking Parachinar with mainland Pakistan remains closed. This has paralysed the life in Parachinar, closing the markets and stopping the construction work.

As a consequence, the poor are suffering the most. The days of ‘Dhiari’ are over and they, like Sarwan Ali, are jobless and with no income. Many mornings, he went to the town expecting to earn a few rupees and every evening he came back empty handed with shattered hopes. Many nights he and his wife went to bed without proper food with bellyful of boiled leaves from the nearby ShahTut tree. He was too proud to beg and too honest to steel. He sold all their possessions, except for his rifle. In the Pukhtun culture, rifle is considered to be a man’s honour; he couldn’t sell his honour. He returned home one evening feeling low and disheartened after another fruitless day and found his grief stricken wife shivering like a leaf. He knew it was Malaria as he saw her in that state before. But still, he put his trembling hand on her forehead; she was burning hot. He also knew she needed medicine to bring the temperature down and to treat the Malaria but this time, unlike the previous time; he didn’t have money to buy the needed medicine. The feeling of desperation hit him hard and the sense of worthlessness stabbed him deep. He couldn’t bear to see the pain on her pale face. He knew she was not only sick but also weak from lack of food. Filled with despondency, he moved to one corner, picked up his gun, loaded it and turned around to face her. Tears were rolling down her face. She knew what he was about to do. “You’re an honourable man Sarwan Ali. Do what you have to do.” She closed her eyes waiting for the end. He pointed the gun at her but could not bring himself to shoot her. He started crying like a child and for a long time, the two caring souls broke the silence with their agonising sobs. Then slowly, he eased the pressure on the trigger and started walking towards the door. He decided to sell his honour, his gun, in Parachinar to buy medicine for his dear wife. He went to a chemist shop and offered to sell his gun and get medicine out of the price. He was told that there was no medicine because none was coming through the blocked roads from Peshawar. Sarwan pleaded with him and told him about his wife’s condition. The man felt sorry for him and handed him over two Paracetamols. Back in the room, he gave the tablets to his wife and after a while she stopped shivering and went to sleep. He watched her sleep for a long time, then got up slowly, performed Wazu as if he was preparing for prayer; picked up his gun and without a second thought shot himself. The bullet passed through his chest. This is the life in the war-torn Parachinar, where death is as cheap as sipping water from a stream; a town, which was known for pleasant weather and natural beauty.

A town, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fell in love with and wanted to turn it into a settlement like Switzerland. That was the time when Shah of Iran had friendly relation with Saudi King. That was the time when Sunni-Shia misunderstandings did not change into hate. That was the time when skirmishes between Sunni and Shais remained local and were settled amicably by the administration. That was the time when Afghanistan was not taken over by Taliban. And that was the time when general Zia was still serving as army chief under ZAB. Things changed when Shah was deposed in Iran, when Zia took over in Pakistan, when Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviets, when America supported fanatic Sunni Arabs against Soviets, and when it helped Sunni Pukhtuns against Iran. Things changed radically. What people didn’t realise was that America was using Muslim religious sentiments for its own gains. It poured money into the pockets of Afghan Warlords with the help of general Zia and turned American war into ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ with tremendous consequences to Pakistan. It took advantage of Zia’s sectarian leanings and put Pakistan on the road to political and religious vulnerability. It was then, when Parachinar was caught in the middle of sectarian strife. Iranian clergy started supporting the Shias in Parachinar through prominent local Syeds, and the Saudi Wahabis pumped money to the local Sunni Mullahs. Sunnis fought Afghan war to please Saudis and Shias safeguarded Iranian interests. Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan; American won the ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ and left the spoils in the hands of fanatics. The spill over was bound to effect Parachinar. And it did in a big way. The beautiful town has never since returned to its previous grace. The time rolled on.

The strong corporations in America required an enemy to replace the dismembered Soviets. They found one in the garb of ‘terrorism’ creeping out of Afghanistan. It was moulded in the same outfit as their Jihadi friends in the not so distant past. Now, they needed the change of guards in Afghanistan to target it. They got lucky; the history favoured them twice; once when Musharaf sacked a democratic government in Pakistan; again, when the Towers were brought down by the terrorists. The White House didn’t need much persuasion to seek help from ‘moderate’ Musharaf who made a U-turn in Afghan policy. With change of policy the enemies changed. Now, the Americans were not fighting the communists; they were fighting the terrorists who happened to be Muslims; and Musharaf was not fighting the infidels, he was fighting the same Muslims. In this way, the moderate Musharaf surpassed those barriers which even zealous Zia dared to tread, exposing Pakistan to massive internal turmoil. Today, Parachinar is burning in a fire lit by fanatic Zia and spread by moderate Musharaf; a fire which is different from the one seen in rest of the tribal area. It is not linked to sentiments against Pakistan army or even America. It is based on emotions against Taliban.

Majority in upper Kurrum are Shia and they despise Taliban. Taliban in return, reciprocate their sentiments by sending decapitated bodies of Shias captured during their journeys to Peshawar. The Internet is full of grotesque footages. The Shia-dominated upper Kurrum is sealed by the surrounding Sunni-belt having a strong influence of Taliban. In the middle of it, Parachinar is in virtual siege with no food items, no daily commodities and no medicines. In desperation, the Shias are turning to Afghan government for help after seeing apparent apathy from Pakistan. This is a bizarre situation, the like of which was once historically seen in early 20th century, when a Shia Turi tribal Chief, Noor Khan (alias Dur Khan) sought British help when he found Shias under siege in identical circumstance. Today they are asking Afghan government to help them against the Taliban. In the middle of this bizarre turn around, the poor people of Parachinar from both sects are slaughtered like animals in sectarian hate and others like Sarwan Ali are killing themselves for reasons other than that hate. This is Parachinar burning in a fire not lit by the locals but by those whose political and religious interests lay outside Pakistan.


Written by 

Dr Ghayur Ayub

 

Monday, September 22, 2008

 MQM seeks relief for Kurram violence victims
By By Mumtaz Alvi 
9/20/2008
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislator Abbas Komaili on Friday called for emergency relief measures for hundreds of thousands of people stranded in the restive Kurram Agency, affected by the violence that started last year.

Talking to The News, Senator Komaili, who, on several occasions, had raised the burning issue on the floor of the Senate, was concerned about the plight of traumatised women and children and the injured, as there was severe shortage of food items and medicines since long.

He complained that the government was either facing pressure from within or had failed to comprehend the enormity of the human sufferings in Parachinar, where an element, enjoying foreign support, was targeting the local population, consisting of both Sunnis and Shias.

The MQM parliamentarian pointed out that the PML-Q government and then the caretakers, and now the PPP-led ruling coalition had been describing the volatile situation in Parachinar differently. 

Some time, it was termed as a result of infighting, violence between Sunnis and Shias and even a feud between two tribes ie Turi and Bangash.Komaili, who claims to have been in constant touch with some prominent people in Parachinar, said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had promised on the floor of the Senate recently that medicines would be supplied there by helicopters, but, according to his information, there had been no significant progress so far on this count.

He said a well-organised and well-coordinated effort was crucial to alleviate sufferings of the violence-hit population.Parachinar, spread over 1,305 square miles, is the capital of Kurram Agency. It is facing violence for the last 18 months, which has claimed hundreds of lives.

"I just wonder, what really are the causes, which have barred the government from intervening and restoring peace in Kurram Agency. The nation wants to know why no effective corrective measures have been taken," he maintained.

Asked why the incumbent government had so far not been able to restore normalcy, he said that the rulers were primarily engaged in political matters, having hardly any time to address this particular issue.

 

Recovery of kidnapped activists demanded

 Recovery of kidnapped activists demanded
Saturday, September 20, 2008
By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: Activists of the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) on Friday staged a protest against the killing of fellow students and kidnapping of two others in Khyber Agency.

Chanting slogans and holding placards, the students gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club and demanded of the government to provide security to them. They also voiced their concern over the closure of the Tall-Parachinar Road for more than a year and asked the government to take effective measures for opening the road for general traffic. 

The protesting students said unknown persons had kidnapped three activists of ISO from Khyber Agency and later killed one of them. They said the government had failed to maintain its writ and provide security to people. They demanded the government to take effective steps for safe recovery of the two kidnapped students.


The NEWS International
Monday, September 22, 2008,
Ramazan 21, 1429 A.H

ISO condemns killing of students F.P. Report

ISO condemns killing of students F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Condemning the killing of students of Parachinar in Khyber Agency, activists of Imamia Students Organization (ISO) Peshawar Chapter staged a protest demonstration, outside Peshawar Press Club, here on Friday, and demanded of the government and political administration to immediately take in to task involved people of incident. The protest was led by ISO Peshawar divisional General secretary Muhammad Saqib, and Muhammad Ali, along with score of activists and others students. The activists were holding placards and banners inscribed slogans against the killing of student Naeem and in favour of their demands. The also raised full-throated slogans against the political administration and government, which failed to provide protection to the civilians in particular students from Parachinar. While addressed the gathering, the ISO Chief Muhammad Ali has said that the Naeem had been taken admission in Electronic Technology, under FATA scholarship program in Peshawar. Since, half a year, he said that the Parachinar road had been remained close due to extremists elements in the areas, while the local have facing numerous difficulties to travel other parts of the province, adding that they were traveling via Khyber Agency to Peshawar, instead of main Parachinar road. He further said that two people from Parachinar had been abducted by some miscreant elements via traveling Landi Kotal, out of which Naeem was sustained, injured through bullet and drew him at main Landi Kotal road. The Naeem was rushed to nearby hospital to first aid, where he succumbed to his injuries and died, he added. The activists have demanded of the government, political administration and other high-ups to immediately recover two abducted students and take action against the killers of Naeem. They also demanded that the Parachinar road should be save from the miscreants, who had occupied from half and year and early open it, in order to not happen again such incident in the area. The protesters warned that if the government and political administration fails to meet their demands, they would hold wide spread protest and launch protest campaign against it.

The Frontier Post
Saturday, September 20, 2008,
 Ramadan 19, 1429 A.H.

Kurram clashes continue F.P. Report

Kurram clashes continue F.P. Report
PARACHINAR: Kurram Agency skirmishes continued unabated and the extremists cut off the electricity lines, while the talks between the Jirga members and tribal elders will be held soon. Sources said that clashes between Turi and Mangal tribesmen are continuing since the last eight months in Kurram Agency bordering area Pewar, while the clashes during the last two days left 18 dead and 37 wounded. Turi tribesmen have set one village of Mangal tribe on fire. Political officials said that contingents of paramilitary forces have been posted at the posts in different areas.

Sunday, September 21, 2008,
 Ramadan 20, 1429 A.H.