The residents of Parachinar, who, in the wake of a recent terrorist attacks in the town, were staging a sit-in to protest against the authorities’ “apathy” and “failure to provide them with security”, ended their week-long demonstration on Friday after the army chief went there and convinced them that their grievances would be addressed.
According to a press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Parachinar.
He was briefed in detail about the security situation in the town and the recent terrorist attack there. The COAS met with the area’s tribal elders and the participants of the sit-in.
The ISPR director general tweeted:
COAS visited Parachinar."Every Pakistani is our brother,u are our strength. For me every Pakistani is equally imp even non Muslim"COAS(1of2) pic.twitter.com/JNpeZiLVtV
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 30, 2017
COAS visit to Parachinar... "Parachinar is part of Pakistan. Its every inch, every individual is as important as anyone else, COAS. (2 of 2) pic.twitter.com/TejyrLAw0s
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 30, 2017
The army chief expressed his grief on loss of precious lives in the terrorist attack in Parachinar last Friday and offered fateha for the departed souls. Over 72 people were killed in two blasts in the main bazaar of the town in Kurram Agency.
Gen Qamar said, “We as a nation have given unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism and we shall succeed. Our enemies shall never succeed in lowering our resolve or dividing us.”
Speaking on the occasion, the tribal elders expressed their complete confidence in the Pakistan Army and its leadership. They added that they stood by the security forces and would not hesitate in making any sacrifice for their motherland.
The COAS also met the participants of the sit-in and listened to their concerns.
“While administrative concerns will be pursued with the executive body, suggestions on a security mechanism are being incorporated forthwith. We can only be effective when locals are part of the security and vigilance,” the army chief told them.
The COAS announced the following steps:
• While there are clear evidences of hostile foreign hands in recent incidents, local facilitators and abettors have been apprehended who will be tried in military courts.
• Additional army troops have been moved in Parachinar to enhance its security while Frontier Constabulary (FC) troops are being beefed up on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to seal it effectively. Toori Razakars are also being dovetailed on check-posts.
• A safe city project for Parachinar by installing CCTV cameras in line with the ones in Lahore and Islamabad will be undertaken.
• The fencing of border is already in progress. More sensitive areas of Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are being fenced in Phase 1 while the complete Pakistan-Afghanistan border including the portion falling in Balochistan will be fenced in Phase 2.
• Firing by FC troops while handling the mob situation post-blast is being inquired and those responsible shall not be spared. The FC commandant has already been changed. Notwithstanding the irreparable loss, four martyrs and those injured in firing have been compensated by the FC.
• The Army Public School Parachinar is named after Maj Gulfam Shaheed and it will be upgraded to a Cadet College in due course.
• A trauma centre will be established in Parachinar by the army while the area’s civil hospital will be upgraded for better medical care by the civil administration.
• The government has now announced compensation for Parachinar victims at par with other such victims elsewhere in the country. All Pakistanis are equal.
• The army fully supports mainstreaming of Fata – which is being pursued – and its early implementation is essential for enduring peace and stability.
The COAS said he was abroad and then when he returned, bad weather had delayed his attempt to visit Parachinar.
Gen Qamar vowed that the Pakistan Army would continue its efforts to restore normality in the country.
He added that the threat continued to reside across the border in Afghanistan with the Islamic State gaining strength there.
“We need to remain united, steadfast, prepared and vigilant against this threat which has an agenda of exploiting the sectarian fault-line,” he noted.
“Our security forces are symbol of national integration so is our security apparatus; we are one nation. Also, a greater Pakistan-Afghanistan border coordination and security cooperation is required in this regard.”
Commander Peshawar Corps Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmed Butt and IG FC Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were also present on the occasion.
The COAS appreciated the FC K-P and the local administration for their effort and acknowledged their contributions.
So far, 126 soldiers of the FC K-P alone have sacrificed their lives and 387 were injured while performing their duties in Kurram Agency. “The FC K-P is a professional force inclusive of all tribes and sects performing their duties selflessly,” the army chief remarked.
