Islamabad – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly condemned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s response to the ongoing violence in Kurram district, calling it a failure of governance. He criticized the provincial administration for its “criminal negligence” and lack of action in addressing the escalating unrest.
“The government’s silence in this turmoil is akin to being an ally of terrorists. We denounce the PTI government’s failure to fulfill its primary responsibility of maintaining law and order,” Bilawal stated on Sunday.
The PPP chairman’s remarks came as Kurram continues to face deadly tribal clashes that have claimed dozens of lives. The violence, which resurfaced last week, began after gunmen ambushed civilian convoys, killing at least 44 people. The death toll from this latest wave of clashes has now exceeded 70, with many others wounded.
Ceasefire Agreement and Government’s Role
On Saturday, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif announced that the warring tribes had agreed to a seven-day ceasefire. Both sides have also committed to returning hostages and the bodies of the deceased.
Despite these developments, Bilawal criticized the KP government for its absence during the crisis, stating that residents of Kurram are not safe even in their own homes. He emphasized that ensuring the safety and security of citizens is the provincial administration’s foremost duty, a duty he claimed the PTI-led government has failed to uphold.
Call for Accountability
Bilawal directed KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to provide a comprehensive report on the situation in Kurram. He expressed deep concern over the immense human and material losses in the district, reiterating the need for immediate action to restore peace.
Human Rights Concerns
The ongoing violence has also drawn the attention of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which recently urged the government to address the increasing frequency of clashes in the region. The HRCP warned that the situation has reached the scale of a humanitarian crisis, calling for urgent measures to ensure the safety of the affected communities.
