Friday, September 9, 2011

PM to bring Munir at front to resume peace process at Kurram Agency

F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: In wake of deteriorating peace situation at Kurram Agency Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has decided to give task for playing mediatory role between the rival factions to Munir Orakzai, the Parliamentary Leader of FATA Parliamentarians and cousin of Mullah Fazal Saeed -a commander of defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Islami (TTI) at Kurram Agency and Mullah Aamir Saeed (TTP Waziristan), to establish peace in the area.Prime Minister Gilani when questioned exclusively at PM Secretariat about deteriorating, law and order situation at Kurram Agency said the other day, that after the return of Munir Orakzai the Parliamentary Leader of the FATA Parliamentarians the peace efforts would be re-activated. The government, Yusuf Raza Gillani said, is seeking his assistance to bring all the rival factions of the Kurram Agency on the table and to reach out some permanent solution or accord to establish peace in the area.On the other side, the Turi-Bangish tribal elders have expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Kurram Agency in the wake of the recently conducted military operation in central parts of the tribal region as well on Sunday and has called upon the government to activate the peace jirga for the restoration of peace during a news conference.After the return of the Parliamentary Leader of FATA Parliamentarians Munir Orakzai who was in Saudi Arabia to offer Ummrah, the government backed peace process in the form of the Jirrgahs' (Sittings of the tribal elders) would be resumed in the Agency to restore peace. It is pertinent to mention here that despite being a Parliamentary Leader of the FATA Parliamentarians Munir Orakzai enjoys great deal of influence in the area as one of his cousin was head of Tehreek e Taliban Islami-former TTP- Mullah Fazal Saeed (Who abducted 40 Kurramites few months earlier) in the area of Bagan and other was Taliban commander Mullah Aamir Saeed in Waziristan.Following these reason the government has decided to bring him forward to establish peace in the Kurram Agency and to resume the Peace process in the area.
 

Two militants injured as forces foil attack on passengers in Kurram


Two militants injured as forces foil attack on passengers in Kurram


PARACHINAR, Sept 8: Two militants were injured when security forces opened fire on a suspected vehicle in Bagun area of Kurram Agency on Thursday, officials said.
They said that security forces were providing escort to 300 passengers going from Parachinar to Peshawar when armed persons travelling in a suspected car approached the convoy from the opposite direction. When it reached Bagun area, the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle.
They said that two militants were injured in the firing. The suspected persons along with their wounded accomplices abandoned the vehicle and ran away, they added.
Sources said that the attackers belonged to the group of militant commander Mohammad Ayub.
Meanwhile, one person was killed and seven others were injured in two different incidents in upper and lower Kurram.
In the first incident, armed men opened firing on a vehicle near Alizai and injured two persons identified as Nasir Hussain and Hadi Hussain.
In another incident, one person was killed and five others were injured in a clash between the residents of Boshara and Malikhel areas. A resident of Boshara was killed while five others received injuries in the clash.
Security forces fired artillery shells from their base in Parachinar to end the clash.
Meanwhile, a body was found in Chappari area of lower Kurram Agency on Thursday.
Officials said that deceased belonged to upper Kurram Agency, however, his identity could not be established. The deceased was kidnapped from the main road few days ago.
The body was hanging from an electricity pole near a security checkpost. A cellular phone number was also inscribed on the body. The body was sent to Parachinar for identification.
In South Waziristan Agency, security forces blew up five houses near Wana on Thursday and arrested 20 tribesmen under Frontier Crimes Regulation.
Sources said that security forces backed by helicopters besieged houses in Manrh, Sholam and Raghzai areas and conducted a search operation. They said that 20 people were arrested under territorial responsibility clause of FCR and were shifted to Brigade Headquarters at Zari Noor colony for interrogation.
After search operation soldiers destroyed five houses with dynamites. Sources said that a convoy of security forces was attacked on Wana-Angoor Adda Road three days ago. One soldier was killed and two others were injured in the attack.
They said that administration took action under FCR because it was the responsibility of tribesmen to prevent such incidents in their area. However, locals said that authorities had arrested innocent people, who had nothing to do with the attack on security forces.
Meanwhile, an explosion caused partial damage to a health unit in Tanai area near Wana on Wednesday night.
In Shangla district, police claimed to have recovered a cache of arms, dumped at a hilltop by suspected militants in Charsar area, on Thursday.
The arms include seven mortar shells and 13 hand grenades.