At least 40 persons were killed and scores of others injured in Parachinar and other parts of the Kurram tribal agency on Saturday on the second day of sectarian clashes. Arbab Muhammad Arif, Secretary (security) for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), told The News that 40 persons were killed and 43 injured in the fighting in Kurram Agency. He said the authorities have not kept any count of the number of Sunnis and Shias who lost their lives in the clashes. However, he did not agree with the suggestion that Pakistan ArmyÂ’s helicopter gunships had caused most of the fatalities by firing at combatants from the air.Conceding that the clashes have spread out of the regional headquarters, Parachinar, to other parts of Kurram Agency, he said efforts were being made to control the situation through effective measures. Earlier, Kurram Agency's Political Agent Sahibzada Anees said the government could resort to the use of helicopter gunships to intercept and attack fighters in outlying areas of Kurram Agency to prevent the escalation of fighting. He said shoot-at-sight orders have been given to the troops patrolling the streets of Parachinar town to stop violation of curfew and check the activities of miscreants bent upon attacking members of the rival sects and their properties.
Unconfirmed reports from Kurram Agency said the death toll was more than 40 and it was rising due to the continuing clashes and the spread of fighting to hitherto peaceful villages. The use of heavy weapons by the combatants, including missiles, rocket launchers and mortar guns was said to be taking heavy toll of life and property in the affected areas. Isolated Sunni and Shia villages were particularly being targeted as reinforcements could not reach there in time from members of their sects. One report said 75 persons were injured in the fighting and many of them were unable to receive medical treatment due to intense clashes and closure of roads on account of insecure conditions.