Islamabad: A tragic incident unfolded in the Ochat area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) Lower Kurram district on Thursday, resulting in the loss of at least 38 lives and injuries to 11 individuals, as reported by Dawn, quoting the police.
Kaleem Shah, the Station House Officer of Ahmady Shama, confirmed the gravity of the situation, revealing the death toll and the number of injured, including three women.
During a press conference at the Islamabad High Court, Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, corroborated the figures, describing the incident as part of a concerning trend of recent attacks.
"This week has been marked by distress and sorrow; tragically, 38 individuals have lost their lives in Kurram," Naqvi stated. He assured the public that the government was in constant communication with provincial authorities, emphasizing the commitment to support Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in any capacity.
"We recognize the importance of unity and solidarity; we are ready to assist in any manner possible," Naqvi added.
The spokesperson for the KP government, Barrister Saif, provided details of the attack, which commenced with an assault on police personnel followed by an attack on a passenger convoy from both sides. The convoy, estimated to consist of approximately 200 vehicles, was attended by district officials, senior police officers, and emergency responders, with an ongoing investigation being conducted.
Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud suggested that while sectarian violence had been a recurring issue in the region, the deliberate targeting of civilians in this attack raised concerns about terrorism.
Earlier, Dr. Muhammad Ishaq, the Medical Superintendent at Alizai Hospital, reported a total of 33 fatalities and 30 injuries. Many of the injured were referred to hospitals within the district, while others required transfer to facilities in Peshawar.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack on innocent passengers, describing it as a "cowardly and inhumane" act, and called for immediate action against the perpetrators.
"Attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act," Zardari stated in a statement on X by Pakistan Peoples Party's media cell. "The President underscored the importance of providing prompt medical assistance to the victims and holding those responsible accountable."
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed his condemnation of the attack, emphasizing the critical need for providing optimal medical assistance to the victims and vowing to identify and hold accountable those responsible.
"The assault on the convoy of innocent individuals is an act of extreme violence. We will not allow any efforts by anti-national forces to undermine the peace of our cherished nation. The perpetrators of this heinous act will be identified and brought to justice," Sharif stated, as reported by Dawn.
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, also denounced the attack and dispatched a team to Kurram to evaluate the circumstances.
In recent developments, two terrorists were eliminated in a military operation in North Waziristan, and 12 members of the security forces lost their lives in an attack at a checkpost in Bannu.
