Roadblocks in Kurram prevented the second truck convoy, which was carrying food and other daily necessities, from reaching the besieged district, where a police party came under fire, officials and local sources said on Friday.

According to the district administration, local residents had staged a sit-in in Mandori, Lower Kurram for their demands. Due to the sit-in, the Tal-Parachinar highway had been closed, it said, adding that negotiations were on with the protest leaders in Tal Cantt to reopen the road.

According to the Kurram police, the trucks loaded with goods could not reach Upper Kurram because the permission for the road in Lower Kurram was not issued. They added that the convoy was currently stuck in Tal in Hangu district. The convoy was expected to resume its journey on Saturday.

People are facing difficulties due to the delay in the arrival of the convoy,” said Haji Imdad, the president of the union in Kurram. “There is a severe shortage of edible items, medicine, fuel and other items of daily use in the district, for which requires 500 trucks of goods.”

District administration Kurram said the government was taking steps in collaboration with all relevant institutions and jirga members, including talks with the sit-in protesters in Mandori, to clear the road and restore normal traffic.

Meanwhile, an armored personnel carrier (APC) came under fire near Balashkhel checkpost in Lower Kurram, but luckily there were no casualties. The police stated that the shooting came from a passing vehicle which did not stop at the post for a search.

Local Police Station Commander Fazal Karim and other policemen were present in the APC vehicle when it was fired upon. Local tribesmen said it was a misunderstanding because the occupants of the vehicle mistook the police for their enemies in disguise and did not stop but walked past the fire.