KURRAM: The Kurram District Bar Association has written a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the closure of local roads for the last five months, complaining that the blockades have caused a shortage of edible items and medicines in the tribal district.

The letter, signed by association president Aamir Abbas and other lawyers, drew the president’s attention to the “humanitarian crisis caused by the closure of the Thall-Parachinar Road for the last over 150 days.”

It read that the blockades had led to financial losses and deaths, while the unavailability of fuel for vehicles had severely impacted the education sector.

“The shortage of medicines has caused over 500 deaths, including those of newborns, cancer patients and individuals suffering from diabetes and heart diseases.”

The association noted that the region’s economic situation had collapsed with all markets closed, while those working abroad were unable to return to their workplaces with their visas expiring due to road closures.

While Parachinar is peaceful and all government departments are functioning properly, the district’s courts as well as Sadda tehsil courts have no judicial attendance, to the suffering of visitors.

The bar leaders urged President Zardari to take notice of the grave situation and direct authorities to immediately reopen the Thall-Parachinar Road, ensure security in the district, and maintain lasting peace.

They said the president’s intervention would help alleviate the misery of Kurram residents by safeguarding their fundamental rights.

Meanwhile, a protest outside the Parachinar Press Club against road closures entered the seventh day.

The protesters demanded the reopening of the main road, compensation for the families of the residents who lost lives due to a lack of medical treatment, and the Shuhada Package for the deceased.

They said the reopening and protection of the main road was imperative to end the ongoing unrest in the area.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025