Parachinar

Parachinar youth in shrouds stage rally

By A Reporter | From the Newspaper

ISLAMABAD, May 9: Wrapped in shroud, Parachinar youth held a protest rally on Monday from the National Press Club to the D-Chowk demanding opening of road leading to Parachinar.

The organisers said that the rally was aimed at highlighting the woes of the residents of upper Kurrum on the 19th day protest camp established by the Youth of Parachinar in front of press club.The speakers criticised Interior Minister Reham Malik who had announced and promised several times that the Tal-Parachinar road had been opened and it would be made safer for travelling.

"However, he has not given any administrative order for opening the road," Chairman of Youth of Parachinar Ali Shah Kazimi said while addressing the rally at the D-Chowk Parliament house. He said that the reasons are unknown but the interior minister has been making the same announcements for many months.

All protesters were demanding the Government and members of National Assembly to clear and open the Tal-Parachinar road which is closed to the residents of upper Kurrum, only.

"The travellers of upper Kurrum are kidnapped, maimed and killed at this road and the forces are stationed just few kilometres on both sides," Ali Kazmi said.

Deputy Secretary, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen Pakistan, Allama Ameen Shaheedi said that half a million residents of Parachinar are living in siege by the Taliban, and all the essential commodities including food, fuel and medicines are supplied from Afghanistan to the area.

"Even the residents have to travel to Afghanistan to come to Peshawar," he said adding "this is a matter of shame for the mangers of the state."

The speakers said that the life has been made miserable for the masses, the economy has ruined, educational career of students spoiled, there is shortage of daily essential commodities, hospitals lack the medicines, patients were dying and were being exploited due to closure of one and only Tall-Parachinar road, which connects the Kurram Agency with Peshawar.

The speakers said that the army stationed in Parachinar should be made responsible for securing the road between Peshawar and Parachinar.

The speakers said that the road was almost 250 kilometres from Peshawar to Parachinar but the troubled spot was only a patch of 25-30 kilometres near Tal, and the kidnappings of Parachinar passengers continue despite the agreements between warring tribes to open up the road, which have been guaranteed by the government of Pakistan.

SOURCE: http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/10/parachinar-youth-in-shrouds-stage-rally-2.html

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Identity tip-off enrages CIA

For second time in 5 months, Pakistanis give clue to chief's name

By JANE PERLEZ New York Times

Published 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Pakistani children hold hands and chant slogans during a demonstration against al-Qaida and and the U.S, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, May 9 2011. Pakistan's prime minister defended his nation's military and intelligence services on Monday and said Pakistan was not solely to blame for the failure to detect Osama bin Laden's presence in a garrison town close to the capital. The demonstrators who chanted anti- U.S and al-Qaida slogans were demanding the Pakistani government to open a road in the northwest Pakistani town of Parachinar which was closed after several attacks on travellers by alleged Taliban militants killing many people. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Pakistani children hold hands and chant slogans during a...
Pakistani children hold hands during a demonstration against al-Qaida and the U.S, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, May 9 2011. Pakistan's prime minister defended his nation's military and intelligence services on Monday and said Pakistan was not solely to blame for the failure to detect Osama bin Laden's presence in a garrison town close to the capital. The demonstrators who chanted anti- U.S and al-Qaida slogans were demanding the Pakistani government to open a road in the northwest Pakistani town of Parachinar which was closed after several aacks on travellers by alleged Taliban militants killing many people. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

SOURCE: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Identity-tip-off-enrages-CIA-1372917.php

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Parachinar youths protest against Taliban

Parachinar youths protest against Taliban

Karachi

our correspondent
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Karachi

The Youths of Parachinar staged a protest rally on Monday against besieging of Parachinar by what they termed Talibans since last four years.

The rally started from Purani Numaish and ended at the Karachi Press Club where a large number of law enforcers cordoned off the entire area and blocked the road leading to the Governor's House. The water cannon carriage was also posted to disperse the protesters.

However, the youths peacefully scattered after their demonstration. The road leading to the KPC apparently was also under siege, as neither vehicles nor the pedestrians were allowed to move in by the LEA deployed on the arterial avenue.

The youth demanded of the Government and the Pakistan Army to immediately establish the writ of the government and take immediate action against the American-Taliban to end the four year-long besiege of Parachanar-Kurram Agency.

The Youth of Parachanar (YoP), an organisation of the Kurram Agency-Parachanar Youths living in Karachi staged protest demonstration in front of Karachi Press Club (KPC)against the years-long siege by the Taliban. The large number of students of various universities and colleges of Karachi hailing from Kurram Agency gathered outside KPC, the participants carried placards inscribed with slogans and chanted against Taliban, and the ruling PPP government over their discriminated behavior with the people of Parachanar.

SOURCE: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=46009&Cat=4&dt=5/10/2011

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YoP stages sit-in against besiegement of Parachinar

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

YoP stages sit-in against besiegement of Parachinar

KARACHI: The Youths of Parachinar (YoP) on Monday demanded of the government and Pakistan Army to immediately establish government's writ and take immediate action against the Taliban to end the four-year besiegement of Parachinar-Kurram Agency.

The YoP, an organisation of the Kurram Agency-Parachinar Youths living in Karachi, staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the besiegement of Parachinar. A large number of Parachinar's students from various universities and colleges of Karachi gathered outside the KPC carrying placards inscribe with slogans against the Taliban and the ruling PPP government over their discriminatory behaviour with the Parachinar people.

Addressing the protestors, YoP Karachi chairman Zamin Abbas, and Abbas Ali Turi said that the Taliban terrorists had besieged Kurram Agency-Parachinar for the last four years.

They demanded of president, prime minister, Army chief, SC Chief Justice and other leaders to play their due roles in ending the years long besiegement of the area. staff report

SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C05%5C10%5Cstory_10-5-2011_pg12_7

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Militancy woes: Health care not on the agenda

By Sehrish Wasif

Published: May 8, 2011

Experts reveal the dearth of basic health facilities in the conflict-hit region of Kurram.

ISLAMABAD:

Militancy-hit Kurram Agency is drowning in a sea of trouble, with a daily death rate of 15 to 20 on average because of lack of medical facilities.

With rural health care centres having been destroyed as a result of terrorism, even avoidable diseases often turn out to be fatal.

Kurram tribal agency is located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and became a frontline region during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

The once-peaceful valley saw an influx of Afghan jihadis and became rife with sectarian clashes. The agency remains conflict-hit to date because of events following September 11.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior gynaecologist from Kurrum Agency said on the condition of anonymity that there is only one public hospital in the region, The Agency Headquarter Hospital, which treats seriously injured people every day. However, due to lack of health facilities and equipment, it fails to provide timely and appropriate treatment.

"Sometimes the hospital receives people with slit throats or missing body parts. Such patients often die on account of not getting timely treatment or lack of professional health care," she said.

She also informed that health professionals from nearby cities like Peshawar are reluctant to come to Kurram due to security reasons. Therefore, local doctors are performing the duties of senior professionals who are inexperienced in fields such as cardiology, pulmonology and neurology, among many others.

Fake and expired medicines coming from Afghanistan is also contributing to the deaths of patients. There are no oxygen cylinders in the hospital and ambulances are frequently attacked by terrorists.

The gynaecologist said that about seven to eight women die during childbirth while 10-13 infants die because of unavailability of oxygen cylinders on a daily basis. Furthermore, the absence of a cold-chain is not maintained for vaccines, decreasing their effectiveness.

Shabbir Sajid, chairperson Society Reformers and spokesperson of Youth of Parachinar, agreed that the existing health facilities in the region are in a deplorable condition.

Sharing some figures, he said a total of 22 Basic Health Units (BHU) in Kurram Agency and 47 civil dispensaries are non-functional, while seven BHUs and 20 dispensaries have been totally destroyed. Also, in public hospitals, there are no oxygen cylinders, X-ray or ultrasound services, or blood bags which result in 20-25 deaths daily.

Serious patients cannot travel to Peshawar or other nearby cities due to the absence of public transport. The only way to travel is by air, which a majority of people cannot afford. "A one way ticket costs Rs 35,000-50, 000," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2011.

SOURCE: http://tribune.com.pk/story/164246/militancy-woes-health-care-not-on-the-agenda/

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