Friday, November 27, 2009

Kurram residents remain delinked from country on Eid!

By: Javaid-ur-rahman | Published: November 27, 2009

ISLAMABAD – Just like on Eid-ul-Fitr, hundreds of residents of the restive Kurram Agency may not be able to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their loved ones due to the continued blockade of the only road that links the area with the rest of the country.

It is appalling that Pakistanis belong to Parachinar, Headquarter of Kurram agency, have to adopt the route through Afghanistan to reach areas in their own country, as the Thall-Parachanar road is unofficially under the control of a handful of militants, which compels the residents of the area to use the Afghanistan route.
“Every person can’t take risk to go from this long and risky as well as expensive way as residents of these areas have to go in shape of caravans,” said Ali Toori, a resident of Parachinar living in Islamabad for his job, while talking to TheNation.
People belonging to Kurram Agency working in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have a deep sense of insecurity and are posing questions about the tall claims of President Asif Ali Zardari to plan arrangements for the people of the area.
It is pertinent to note here that when the residents of Parachinar staged protests outside the Judges Colony in Islamabad against improper arrangements of traveling, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik assured them proper arrangements only after one week. The situation is still the same, and many are leaving for their hometown with a sense of insecurity and paying fares of Rs. 3,000, said Maqdad Hussain, a resident of Kurrram Agency, adding that many people including students, jobbers and others are not going due to expensive traveling as the normal fare is not more than Rs. 300.
President Asif Ali Zardari had announced the launch of aerial service between Peshawar and Parachinar but it has not materialised yet, he added.

source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/27-Nov-2009/Kurram-residents-remain-delinked-from-country-on-Eid