The demolition of bunkers in Kurram district, which has been affected by conflict, will begin today (Sunday) following orders from Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan.
According to Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan, in line with the Kohat peace agreement, all bunkers in the district will be dismantled, and weapons must be surrendered by February 1.
In the initial phase, bunkers from one village on each side will be demolished, with security personnel accompanying the teams to ensure safety during the operation.
Khan further stated that relief supplies will be sent once security clearance is obtained. He also reminded that Section 144 is still enforced in Kurram, where sit-ins continue at three different locations.
The decision to demolish the bunkers follows resolutions made during a provincial apex committee meeting and agreements between the involved parties.
As reported, the Deputy Commissioner has instructed the relevant departments to start the bunker removal process in Lower Kurram villages such as Kharkali and Balishkhel immediately.
The C&W department’s executive engineers from Upper and Lower Kurram have been directed to be present on-site with necessary equipment and workers for the demolition.
According to the notification, the operation will begin with the removal of bunkers from one village on each side, with a 14-member government team overseeing the process in both villages.
The decision to dismantle bunkers in Kurram was made during an apex committee meeting and is part of the agreement reached between the parties involved.
Earlier, road closures in Kurram had prevented the second convoy of trucks, carrying food and daily necessities, from reaching the district, where a police party came under fire, according to officials and local sources on Friday.
The district administration reported that local residents had staged a sit-in in Mandori, Lower Kurram, which led to the closure of the Tal-Parachinar highway. Negotiations were ongoing with protest leaders in Tal Cantt for the reopening of the road.
Kurram police confirmed that the convoy, loaded with goods, was stuck in Tal, Hangu district, as the clearance for the road in Lower Kurram had not been issued. The convoy was expected to resume its journey on Saturday.
Meanwhile, K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticized the PTI-led provincial government for its incompetence in managing security and governance.
In a news conference at the Karachi Press Club, the K-P governor stated that the province was being led by “incompetent individuals,” resulting in growing insecurity.
He added that the restriction on tourists visiting the province was a clear sign that the situation was deteriorating.
