At least 82 people have been killed and 156 others injured in three days of deadly ethnic violence in northwestern Pakistan, a local official confirmed on Sunday (November 24).
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an administrative official from Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province told media that among the deceased, 16 were Sunni and 66 were Shia Muslims.
While Pakistan is predominantly Sunni, the Kurram district bordering Afghanistan has a significant Shia population. The district has witnessed decades of sectarian conflict between the two communities.
The latest violence erupted Thursday when two separate Shia convoys were attacked despite police protection, resulting in at least 43 deaths.
Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said Sunday, “Our priority today is to stop this violence by resolving the dispute between both sides. Once this is achieved, we can address other issues.”
