Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Law Minister Aftab Alam has rejected reports that a helicopter carrying a high-level delegation of the provincial government was attacked while travelling from Peshawar to Kurram district.
Reports had earlier in the day claimed that a helicopter carrying KP law minister, chief secretary and inspector general of police was attacked while heading to Kurram to sort the security situation in the wake of Thursday’s deadly attack on passenger vans.
“No incident of firing at helicopter took place and entire delegation is completely safe,” Aftab Alam told Geo News.
Over 40 people, including three women, were killed in an attack when assailants opened fire on a passenger vans in Ochat area of Kurram district.
The attackers targeted the convoy travelling from Parachinar to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital, Peshawar.
The incident led to countrywide protests against the government’s failure to protect the people of the area amid serious security concerns. It also led to worsening of the conflict between two rival tribes Alizai and Bagan.
Another 18 people were killed in overnight clashes on Friday night.
Fake reports regarding the attack on a government helicopter came as Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area.
DC Mehsud and Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram, confirmed that a high-level meeting was underway in the district for peace efforts.
