Chief Secretary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, described the incident as devastating, noting that among the deceased were a woman and a child. He warned that the death toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition.
“A convoy of passenger vehicles traveling between Peshawar and Parachinar came under attack by armed men,” said Ziarat Hussain, a Parachinar resident, speaking to Reuters by phone. He added that his relatives were among the passengers.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assault, but the region has seen long-standing tensions between Shia and Sunni Muslim communities over land disputes.
Condemnations and Call for Action
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly and inhumane act.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized the need to protect civilians and called for immediate justice.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari echoed these sentiments, urging the government to prioritize law and order. "Establishing law and order is a primary responsibility of the government; civilian lives should be protected,” he said via the party's media cell on X.
Context of Violence
This tragedy adds to a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan’s tribal and conflict-prone regions. In August, gunmen killed 23 people after forcing them off vehicles in Balochistan province. Ethnic and sectarian violence, particularly targeting Shia Muslims, has plagued the region for decades.
The government has pledged to take action, but the latest attack underscores the ongoing challenges in securing these volatile areas and addressing underlying sectarian tensions.
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