Security force deployed to secure travellers on Kurram main road, PHC told

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court was informed on Saturday that the provincial government has set up a special force to protect travellers using the main road in Kurram district.

During proceedings before Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Inamullah Khan, Kurram District Police Officer Malik Habib said the newly created Road Protection Force consisted of about 885 former servicemen, 200 police officials and 10 contingents of the Federal Constabulary.

The bench directed the DPO to submit a report on the latest security situation on the Thall-Parachinar Road at the next hearing, scheduled for June 9. It also asked Additional Advocate General Fazl-i-Mola to place on record a report on behalf of the home and tribal affairs secretary detailing the steps taken by the provincial government.

Petition seeks restoration of peace and services

The directions came during the hearing of a petition seeking orders for the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to restore peace in the troubled district, reopen the main road and ensure the supply of essential goods and services to residents.

The petition was filed by Mahmood Ali Turi, a lawyer from Kurram district. He asked the court to direct the federal and provincial governments, law-enforcement agencies and other authorities to restore law and order, transport, education and health services, and to ensure access to food and other basic necessities, including justice, for people in the district.

He also requested permission for civilians to use helicopters, the immediate operationalisation of Parachinar Airport, and arrangements to help candidates and students appearing in federal and provincial-level interviews through video-link by restoring internet service.

The petitioner further sought interim relief, asking the court to order the respondents to submit a preliminary report to ensure the provision of essential services and basic facilities, or at least transport services, until the case is decided.

Road partly open, court told

Appearing through video-link from Parachinar, DPO Malik Habib told the court that the district’s security situation had deteriorated in the past because of sectarian clashes, but had improved significantly.

On traffic movement along the Thall-Parachinar Road, he said all sections were open except a short stretch near the Sadda Bypass. He added that traffic had been diverted away from that portion.

Counsel for the petitioner, Ahmad Farooq Khattak and Ali Azim Afridi, appeared with their client and argued that after the establishment of the Road Protection Force, the Alizai-Darshoor section should also be opened for traffic.

In reply, the DPO said a recent meeting had been held with all stakeholders, but some security concerns were still preventing the reopening of that patch. He said efforts were under way to clear the road as early as possible.

Respondents named in petition

The respondents include the federal government through the defence secretary and interior secretary, the KP government through its chief secretary, the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the secretaries of the KP home, food, health, law, elementary and secondary education and higher education departments, and the KP inspector general of police.

According to the petition, which was filed after the deadly sectarian clashes in the district in November 2024, the petitioner’s main grievances include the blockade of roads, including the Thall-Parachinar Road, disruption to daily life, obstruction in the administration of justice and a poor law and order situation in Kurram.

The petitioner argued that the right to life is a fundamental constitutional right, but said that in the district it had been reduced to almost nothing in terms of daily affairs and the smooth functioning of justice and law and order. He maintained that it was the responsibility of the respondents to ensure public safety, peace and tranquility in the district.