Stop the Humanitarian Crisis in Parachinaar, Pakistan

All of you must be aware of the conditions of Parachinar a town of Upper Kurram and inhabited mainly by Shia Muslims. The agents of international imperialism in the guise of so called Taliban want to drive out Shias from their ancestral homeland so that they can carry out their nefarious agenda without any resistance. Initially they tried to dislodge them by launching an offensive, but Shias put up a valiant defense and inflicted heavy causalities on them, compelling them to retreat. However, for the last many months the Taliban have imposed an economic blockade on Shias by blocking the main Tal-Sadda road which passes through a Sunni majority area, and links Parachinar with Peshawar.

This surrounding area is presently under Taliban control where they have established their parallel government. Due to the blockade of this road, the Shias of Kurram Agency are unable to get basic necessities of life, most important of them being food and medicines, from Peshawar resulting in a famine and starvation like condition. In order to reach Peshawar, they have to travel through Afghanistan, making the journey to Peshawar cumbersome and expensive that also drives up the prices of the commodities. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) has so far exhibited an indifferent and callous attitude . Despite various demonstrations as well as meetings with high ups like Asif Zardari and Rehman Malik, the GOP has neither been able to lift the blockade, nor it is providing essential items of life by ferrying special flights, though Parachinar Airport is fully operational. All of you may have heard about the incident of beheading of 12 shia drivers whose food convoy was escorted by government security forces and gunship helicopters.

When the convoy was ambushed by Taliban, the security forces did not put up any resistance; the drivers were kidnapped and later beheaded. Interestingly, the terrorists did not touch single security personnel. This clearly shows that these so-called Taliban have full support of GOP, and they are being used as tools of satanic powers to commit ethnic cleansing of Shias from the strategically important Kurram Agency. After that incident no further effort was made by GOP to supply food by road, or air, resulting in a  famine like situation. It is really shameful that realizing this precarious situation the Karzai Government of Afghanistan came to help and provided medicines worth Rs. 7 million ($650,000) to the Parachinar Government Hospital, but our GOP is doing nothing. Though it is laudable that Shias all over the world are doing their best to support people of Parachinar through their generous donations, but more needs to be done till the problem is resolved.

We request overseas brothers/sisters to set up Parachinar relief committees in their respective areas and collect donations on a regular basis. The root cause of this problem is the inaction of GOP for lack of any effort on its part to establish its writ and lift the blockade of Tal-Sadda Road. If it takes a decisive action to lift the blockade and provide adequate security cover, a major part of this problem would be solved. So far there has also been a lack of sustained effort by Pakistani Shias to pressurize the Government in this regard other than small demonstrations and futile meeting with Government functionaries. The Imamia Students Organization (ISO) Pakistan has now taken an initiative, and is planning a central public meeting in Islamabad in order to pressurize the GOP to take action to end the blockade of the Tal-Sadda Road.

Meetings/Demonstrations would be held in the first week of August coinciding with the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Arif Hussaini. ISO Pakistan is in the process of consulting other organizations, Ulema, and other segments of the society to ensure  their participation and make this demonstration successful. 

Time is running short! Overseas brothers/sisters can contribute effectively in attaining this objective in the following ways. 

• Emails and faxes to President, Prime Minister, C.O.A.S. (As Government has recently authorized Gen Kiyani to deal with militants), Governor N.W.F.P., Nawaz Shariff, Asif Zardari and Rehman Malik etc depicting the plight of people of Parachinar, and demanding lifting of blockade of the main Tal-Sadda Road.  (Click here for a template)
  
  
• Overseas Shias can arrange demonstrations outside Pakistan Embassy, U.N.O., and meetings with the office bearers of human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International etc. Brothers in U.K recently organized an impressive demonstration outside the Pakistan Embassy, and also met with the Ambassador. The same can be done by brothers in Canada and USA. This would create a momentum before the demonstration in Islamabad that might help shake up the Government from its lethargy.  (Click for Videos)

We hope that realizing the gravity of the situation in Parachinar, and other parts of Pakistan such as Hangu, D.I.Khan and Quetta etc we will participate actively in the coming event and make it a success.