Bodies swapped in Kurram Agency

Bodies swapped in Kurram Agency

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Our correspondent PARACHINAR: Taking initiatives for bringing normalcy to the area, the Peace Jirga of the local elders Tuesday exchanged at least 24 bodies and two prisoners between Tori and Bangash tribes at Balishkhel checkpost Tuesday. A meeting was held at the checkpost which was attended by the members of the peace jirga, including Sajid Hussain Tori MNA, Senator Engineer Rasheed Ahmed, Bismillah Jan, former Senator Abdul Aziz, Maulana Khurshid Anwar Jawadi, Malik Abdullah Jan and others. Addressing on the occasion, the speakers said the jirga formed to restore peace in the area would perform its responsibilities efficiently, adding that it is the only opportunity to bury grudges and hatred and try to live brotherly. About 2,000 families had been displaced from the areas, including Gulbazana, Parachinar, Sadda, Arawali, Bagzai, Monda, Jalamay and Chardiwar, would be brought back to their villages, they said. A large number of the local residents arrived at the checkpost to receive the bodies of their relatives, who were killed during the sectarian clashes. About 21 bodies were handed over to Bangash tribe while 3 bodies to Tori tribe besides swapping prisoners. They said the jirga would also resolve other issues like closure of Peshawar-Parachinar Road, taking back the properties occupied by the rival groups, facilitating the hospitals lacking medicines and restoration of power supply to the area that has been suspended for the last three months. So far 1,500 people have been killed and 5,000 injured during the clashes in Kurram Agency. Wednesday, October 29, 2008