Protests continue in Pakistan’s Kurram district over road closures amid crisis

Protests over the prolonged road closures in Kurram district in Pakistan continued on Sunday, with residents holding a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club, despite freezing temperatures. The blockade has resulted critical shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies in the region, as per the Dawn report.

Philanthropist Faisal Edhi stated that over 50 children have died due to insufficient medical facilities, with some reports indicating that the death toll may be even higher, the Dawn report.

Agha Muzammil Hussain, Tehsil Council Chairman criticized the government for “besieging” Parachinar, intensifying the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Provincial Assembly Member Ali Hadi Irfani also criticized the government’s “unnecessary actions” and called for urgent relief efforts.

Local businesses have been shut down due to food shortages, while the district administration is negotiating to reopen roads. Despite these dire reports, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has recently dismissed claims that the deaths in Upper Kurram were caused by a lack of medicines.

Local chemists and pharmaceutical associations have reported supply shortage due to the ongoing road closures. Ihtesham Ali, the Health adviser to the Chief Minister said that no deaths had occurred due to lack of medicine and emphasized that the government was ensuring a continuous supply of medical aid.

He noted that medical supplies, including vaccines and essential medicines valued Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 30 million had been sent to Kurram, with delivery of medicines made by helicopter and distributed by local health authorities. Ali also recognized the logistical challenges, such as delays in clearing medicines at airports, but reassured that these issues were being addressed efficiently.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif called armed groups in the region to surrender their weapons voluntarily, cautioning that the government could take further action if the situation does not improve.

He stressed that road access would be restored as soon as the weapons were surrendered. The continuous crisis has been further complicated by sectarian tensions, with the government working towards a long-term resolution through discussions with local leaders.