Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari urged on Thursday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister and the Interior Minister be summoned in the Senate to address the deteriorating law and order situation in Kurram district following recent killings and extended humanitarian crises.
Key Issues Raised by Senator Jafari
- Failure to Act on DC Removal
- Jafari claimed that despite repeated messages from PTI founder Imran Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister failed to remove the Deputy Commissioner of Kurram, a move Jafari believes could have averted recent clashes.
- Deteriorating Law and Order
- The region has seen severe violence, including the systematic attack on a convoy that killed several women and children, including a six-month-old infant.
- Jafari condemned the provincial and federal governments for failing to restore peace.
- Humanitarian Crisis in Kurram
- The Peshawar-Parachinar Road has been closed for over two months, leading to shortages of food and medicine.
- Students studying outside the region remain stranded due to the blockade.
- House Committee Proposal
- He called for the formation of a Senate Committee to visit Kurram, assess the situation, and hold the provincial and federal governments accountable.
- Accusation of Divide-and-Rule Tactics
- Jafari rejected claims that the violence was due to land disputes, instead attributing it to external forces seeking to divide the local population.
Interior Ministry’s Response
Speaking on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain acknowledged the shared responsibility for the crisis but criticized the KP government for failing to prioritize law and order.
- The federal government repeatedly offered assistance, but the KP government reportedly did not respond.
- Hussain emphasized that resolving disputes, even if land-related, is the provincial government’s duty.
Broader Senate Proceedings
- JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza called for discussions on other critical issues, including the Greece boat tragedy and US sanctions on Pakistani organizations.
- Journalists staged a protest walkout over the registration of numerous cases against media professionals. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar assured reporters that their concerns would be addressed.
Analysis and Outlook
The ongoing crisis in Kurram highlights governance challenges and the need for coordinated efforts between provincial and federal authorities. The lack of effective action has exacerbated a humanitarian crisis, drawing criticism from all quarters.
The Senate’s potential inquiry could push for accountability and solutions, but political divisions and the absence of cohesive governance remain significant hurdles to peace and stability in the region.
