Four Lower Kurram villages ordered to evacuate

Authorities on Thursday issued evacuation orders for residents of four villages in Lower Kurram amid escalating security concerns.

The orders were issued by the district administration to Ochit, Manduri, Dad Kumar, and Bagan villigies emphasising the need to protect residents’ lives and property.

In a related effort, six families from Lower Kurram were relocated to Hangu on Tuesday.

Officials indicated that once the villages are vacated, search operations will commence in the area to enhance security.

The reason behind the relocation, is due to increase in violence in the region, with law enforcement agencies reporting multiple attacks on vehicles and convoys.

Kurram has been wracked by violence for decades, but over 150 people have been killed in a fresh round of fighting which started in November last year.

Prolonged road closures and the complete suspension of movement to and from Kurram led to a severe shortage of food and medicine, which reportedly resulted in additional deaths.

The conflicting parties finally agreed to a ceasefire under a government and military-brokered peace pact, which mandates the surrender of all weapons and the removal of bunkers in accordance with the KP apex committee’s orders.