Parachinar (Ghag Report):
Sectarian violence has engulfed Kurram’s Parachinar, with tensions between Shia and Sunni communities spiraling out of control. Reports suggest that terrorist elements have exploited the situation to ignite hostility between the two groups, plunging the region into chaos.
Witnesses report that armed individuals, allegedly from the Shia community, attacked police checkpoints, Sunni-owned petrol stations, shops, and homes in the Bagan Bazaar area and nearby neighborhoods, setting them on fire. The unrest has created an atmosphere of extreme fear and hostility, akin to civil war.
Adding to the volatility, mosque loudspeakers are reportedly being used to provoke further unrest, with calls urging respective community members to arm themselves, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Despite the escalating violence, both federal and provincial governments remain passive, drawing widespread criticism for their inaction. Religious leaders, political figures, and local elders have also been accused of failing to intervene to prevent further bloodshed.
The recent massacre of 56 innocent people has left the region in mourning, with an urgent need for influential figures to step forward and mediate peace. Leaders must work to de-escalate the conflict, promote reconciliation, and provide solace to those affected.
The nation must unite to amplify one message: Shia and Sunni are brothers, not enemies.