A planned reopening of the Thall-Parachinar-Sadaa Highway was disrupted today by a violent attack on Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud.
Mehsud was shot three times, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and legs, while attempting to negotiate with protestors blocking the highway near Kojalai Baba Village in Bagan. Two security personnel, Police Constable Misal Khan and Frontier Corps personnel Rahimullah and Rizwan were also injured in the attack. Three protestors also reportedly sustained injuries.
The DC was leading a convoy carrying food, medicine and other essential items to Parachinar, which had been cut off from the rest of the country due to ongoing hostilities in the area.
According to official sources and hospital staff, four of the injured, including Mehsud, were initially taken to a hospital in Alizai. A helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the Deputy Commissioner to Peshawar but was forced to return due to inclement weather. Mehsud subsequently underwent surgery at Thall Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Barrister Saif, present at the scene with the Kohat Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police, confirmed that security forces have regained control of the situation and described the attack as a “sinister conspiracy.” He added that Mehsud’s condition is no longer considered life-threatening.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against five individuals, accusing them of involvement in the attack. The FIR alleges that 25 to 30 militants opened fire on the Deputy Commissioner and his security detail. Charges include attempted murder, assault on a public servant, damage to public property, rioting, and terrorism.
The Thall-Parachinar-Sadaa Highway closed for over 85 days, remains closed following the incident.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s advisor on information Barrister Saif said that the DC was stable and recovering. He added that the attack disrupted an aid convoy’s journey towards Parachinar, but it should resume ‘soon’.
He also claimed that the security situation was fully under control and called on the public to avoid spreading misinformation or speculating on the situation.
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack, saying that it aimed to disrupt the ongoing peace efforts in the area. He called upon the people of Kurram to remain ‘united’ in the face of miscreants.
Attackers identified
Official sources later said that the assailants involved in the attack on DC Javedullah Mehsud have been identified and efforts are underway to apprehend them. Authorities have involved a total of five suspects in the attack and several other facilitators could also be involved in the attack, local TV channels reported.
