At least three people were killed and 11 others injured, including five Levies personnel, during an alleged exchange of fire between security officials and protesters in Parachinar area of Kurram Agency on Wednesday.
Clash occurred when the security officials tried to disperse the protesters who had blocked the main Parachinar highway against the political administration’s decision of not allowing entry to two scholars for attending a religious gathering.
Allama Ejaz Behashti and Pir Muqaddas Kazmi were invited by a local religious group to attend a seminar on Tuesday. However, the local administration barred their entry in Kurram Agency citing security concerns, sources said.
This move enraged the local people and they staged a protest against Kurram Agency’s political administration and blocked the main highway.
Frontier Corps commander Lt Col Yasir Bashir said that security forces along with local police tried to disperse the mob peacefully but the situation turned violent when people in the mob opened fire on security officials, injuring five Levies personnel.
In the exchange of fire, three people were also killed, he added. “We are investigating the matter and have so far arrested 47 suspects,” the FC commander said.
The local administration while confirming the death toll and casualties, maintained that the protesters resorted to violence and opened fire upon the law enforcers, which compelled them to use force against the protesters.
Sources in the local administration added that the clerics’ entry was banned keeping in view past incidents of sectarian violence in the area during such programmes.
Kurram is the only part of Pakistan’s border region that has a significant Shia population and has a history of sectarian violence.
