Peshawar: In the last 24 hours, 37 people were killed and more than two dozen were injured in clashes between Shia and Sunni groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to the police, this incident took place in the last 24 hours in the ongoing fighting between Atizai and Bagat gangs in Khurram district bordering Afghanistan.
Earlier also, 47 people were killed in firing on a convoy of vehicles near Parachinar while going to Peshawar. After this, senior government and police officials reached there by helicopter. And restored order but it collapsed within three days.
According to the information received, the death toll in the said war has reached 37. Which is likely to increase. The number of injured is also expected to be more than 30. As officials say.
Six Shia girls were abducted during this incident. Therefore no further information could be found. This is what the police said.
Police further said that after the incident, face-to-face firing continued for almost a day in Balishkhel, Khar-Kali, Kunj-Alizai and Maqbal areas. Despite the presence of police, sporadic firing continued. There were war like situations in three areas. As a result the Thal-Sada-Parachinar highway had to be closed. Therefore, the provincial law minister, chief secretary and inspector general of police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (erstwhile Frontier Province) reached there (in Khurram Kalali district) by helicopter for further investigation.
Two weeks ago, more than 1 lakh people took out a peace march here (in Peshawar) demanding protection of Shias. Once again a march was taken out there with a similar demand.
The bitter reality is that there is no such thing as government in the dry hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan of Pakistan. There is very little farming in the valleys. Where no one dares to go to collect taxes (even revenue). Of those two provinces, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region is ruled by Khan Saheb. Whereas the rich are ruling Balochistan. People also pay revenue and tribute to the Khan-sahebs and Amir-sahebs. Even if it is not in coin but in revenue or ransom of hind (grain, sheep, goat, keep). Chinese engineers or other artisans who come to work for the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) are also killed here.