Gunmen open fire on buses bring Shia pilgrims in Kurram, where clashes with Sunnis have intensified in current months.
Published On 22 Nov 2024
Gunmen have opened fire on convoys of Shia pilgrims in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 42 individuals, according to authorities in the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Women and kids were amongst the deaths in the attacks in the Kurram tribal district on Thursday, authorities stated on Friday.
Sectarian violence has intensified because July in Kurram, a area surrounding Afghanistan, inbetween Shia and Sunni people over land disagreements.
Gunmen opened fire on 2 different convoys of Shia pilgrims takingatrip with authorities escorts in Kurram. No group has declared obligation for the attacks.
Javedullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of Kurram, stated the attacks took location when the convoys were on their method from the district headoffice of Parachinar to Peshawar.
Mehsud informed Al Jazeera on Friday that all the bodies hadactually been recuperated and burials would be performed lateron in the day.
Police stated 20 individuals were injured.
“We likewise handled to recuperate 26 individuals belonging to the Shia neighborhood last night, consistingof females and kids, who were kept captive by Sunni groups,” Mehsud stated.
Ajmeer Hussain, 28, madeitthrough the attack.
“Gunfire unexpectedly appeared and I began reciting my prayers, thinking these were my last minutes,” Hussain informed the AFP news firm.
“I lay down at the feet of the 2 guests sitting next to me. Both of them were struck by several bullets and passedaway quickly,” he stated.
“The shooting lasted for about 5 minutes.”
Condemning the attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, “T