November 8, 2024
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The region has been plagued by sectarian and tribal clashes, leading to severe human rights violations, isolation, and a critical shortage of essential supplies.
HRCP Secretary General Haris Khalique urged the government to treat the land disputes in the area as an emergency and take immediate action. He emphasized the urgent need for both federal and provincial authorities to address the grave human rights issues and humanitarian crisis in the region.
Akbar Khan, HRCP’s Vice Chairperson for Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing tensions.
Main roads have been closed, including the highway connecting to Peshawer, mobile phone services suspended, and access to food, fuel, and medical supplies has been severely restricted. Tragically, numerous sick children and elderly individuals have lost their lives due to the lack of timely medical care.
According to HRCP, hundreds of people have been affected by the conflicts in Kurram this year. In July alone, 49 lives were lost, and at least 190 people were injured. Reports of further casualties, including innocent women and children, have emerged in September and October.
HRCP Co-Chairperson Munizae Jahangir noted that despite several ceasefire agreements and tribal jirgas, violence persists. She announced that HRCP would soon dispatch a fact-finding mission to Kurram to assess the situation firsthand.
Munizae criticized the state’s failure to control the influx of heavy weaponry into the region, which exacerbates the conflict. She questioned the state’s claim of control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting the presence of armed militants and the accessibility of heavy weaponry.
During a press conference, HRCP urged the government to take immediate steps to control the situation in Kurram. Senior journalist Nasir Zaidi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the urgency of government action.
Senior politician Farhatullah Babar drew attention to the broader context of human rights violations in KP, including the existence of secret detention centers and enforced disappearances. He argued that the availability of weapons in such an environment fuels terrorism and reflects the state’s failure to address the root causes of the problem. He advocated for a Truth Commission to investigate these issues and ensure accountability.
The residents of Kurram have organized peace marches to express their desire for an end to the violence. HRCP urged the government to heed these appeals and take concrete measures to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.