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Peace prevails as forces take control of Parachinar
 Security forces have taken control of Parachinar, where calm prevailed on Tuesday with reports of sporadic firing in the Baleshkhel, Sangeena and Sadda areas of the Lower Kurram. According to residents, army troops had taken control of Parachinar city and begun retrieving dead bodies and shifting the injured to hospitals. Security forces retrieved 18 bodies as armed men of the Shia and Sunni sects ceased targeting each others positions in Parachinar city, headquarters of Kurram Agency. However, scattered incidents of firing continued in some areas of Lower Kurram, where troops have yet to take full control. It was the first day when army helicopters were not seen in the air since the breaking out of hostilities on Friday. Stable situation: Chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said the situation was stable in Parachinar, AFP reported. Parachinar is calm. Troops are patrolling the streets and have set up pickets in several parts of the town, while armed groups have left their positions, a local shopkeeper said. There is still a curfew in place while there is no electricity and also a water shortage. We are helping each other and neighbours are sharing whatever food stocks they have left, he said. APP quoted NWFP Governor Lt Gen (r) Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai as saying that although the ceasefire was violated for a short while during the night, the situation was well under the control of the administration and complete calm is prevailing in respective ... agency Jirga today: Meanwhile, sources said a 16-member jirga, comprising representatives of the two sects, would meet today to discuss bringing peace to the area, the staff report goes on to add. The Shias would be represented by Syed Hussaini and the Sunnis would be led by Pir Haidar, said a local. Representatives of the political administration will also participate in the jirga. Posted by: Fred 2007-11-21 |
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