Peshawar (Pakistan): Amidst indications that Pakistan has lost its administrative writ in several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sectarian violence between Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims is escalating in Kurram district of the Province and so far nearly 90 people have died and over 200 have been injured.
More than 50 people were killed and over 50 were injured two days back in Kurram when some gunmen, suspected to be Sunni Muslims, fired at several vehicles.
To avenge this, Shias went on rampage against Shias last night, indulging in widespread violence and arson in Kurram district.
They set ablaze an entire village market and houses belonging to Sunnis, besides government buildings.
The ensuing clashes, including gunfights, left over 40 people dead and 100 others injured, according to reports. The dead included women and children. Some women have also reportedly been abducted.
The clashes continued today also but details of the casualties, if any, were not available yet.
The Pakistani security or administrative has been complacent by its absence, as the officials seemed to have gone into hiding.
Today, a high-level delegation, comprising Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Law Minister, Information Minister, Chief Secretary and IGP flew from Peshawar to Kurram to assess the situation but their helicopter was greeted with bullets.
The helicopter escaped without being hit by any of the volley of bullets, but the incident highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
