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Violence in Pakistani tribal town on Afghan border
Pakistani authorities imposed a round-the-clock curfew in the northwestern tribal town of Parachinar overnight after violence erupted over the death of man shot by police. âAn unruly mob of some 2,500 attacked government offices, destroyed records, looted some shops and set on fire official vehicles on Mondayâ a security official told AFP.
| Sounds very, ummm... Islamic. |
Parachinar, in the semi-autonomous Kurram region bordering Afghanistan, has been put under an indefinite curfew and people have been asked not to leave their homes. Residents told AFP by telephone that police and paramilitary troops were patrolling in the area. Officials said the trouble erupted when troops from the local Kurram militia signaled a pick-up truck for âroutineâ checking but its driver sped away. The militiamen chasing the vehicle opened fire which resulted in the death of the driver on spot. When his body reached Parachinar, angry residents took to the streets and attacked government buildings.
| Must have been a favorite turban... |
The authorities summoned troops to quell violence and the situation is now âunder control,â they said,adding that more than 20 people responsible for the incident have been rounded up.
| Wonder how many of them are clerg? |
Residents said troops also detained several people for violating the curfew. Pakistan has tightened security along its northwestern border and recently additional check posts have been set up to block possible infiltration of suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives from neighbouring Afghanistan.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-07-30 |
