PESHAWAR/KURRAM: As a fragile peace accord in Kurram district holds amid tense circumstances, a senior government official, along with his security guards, was wounded in a targeted attack in the Bagan area of the tribal district while he was on his way to clear the Thall-Parachinar road for a convoy carrying medicines, edibles, and other essentials. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud was coming from Parachinar with his security detail to receive the convoy when he came under attack in Bagan area, a senior government official in Peshawar told Dawn. According to KP government’s spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a protest was underway at the site seeking compensation for houses and shops destroyed in the months-long violence due to which the road was closed. “Some 80 persons, apparently protesters, appeared on the road. The miscreants were among the protesters who shot at the DC,” Mr Saif told Dawn. The spokesperson believed some miscreants were also injured in the retaliatory firing. In a statement issued by his office, Mr Saif said the situation was totally under control, but the convoy had been stopped for the time being. He said that DC Mehsud had undergone surgery and his condition was out of danger. A clearance operation was underway, and the convoy would be sent to Parachinar soon. The official was airlifted to the Peshawar Combined Military Hospital (CMH) after being shifted to the Thall CMH. His condition was said to be satisfactory. Following the shooting incident, the KP chief minister held an emergency meeting in which it was decided that after the peace agreement, the area residents were responsible for the attack. As per the decision taken in the meeting, those involved in the attack should be handed over to the law enforcers, and an FIR will be registered against the perpetrators. The provincial government also decided to announce head money for the capture of the militants and elimination of those involved in the attack. At an emergency press conference, the elders of the Turi and Bangash tribes condemned the firing incident. They said had action been taken against the miscreants involved in the previous attacks, the attack on the DC would have not taken place. They demanded the immediate opening of the road as well as the safe transportation of food commodities, medicines, and fuel to Para­chinar to end the humanitarian crisis in Upper Kurram. Rasool Khan, a driver with the stranded convoy, said he had been waiting at the border of Kurram district for the past two days and his truck was loaded with perishable goods, such as fruits and vegetables, which were starting to go bad. He said the drivers were facing hardships due to cold weather and lack of facilities, requesting the government to help them. Jamil Turi, a tribal leader, told Dawn that for the past 87 days, the people of Parachinar had been without essential goods and the firing incident had further aggravated the situation. “They are now wondering when will the convoy reach Parachinar so that their ordeal can end,” he added. In a statement, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur sought a report of the incident and directed str­ict legal action against those involved in the incident. “The attack is a deliberate and malicious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to undermine the government’s peace efforts in the region,” the statement quoted CM Ga­­ndapur as saying. He attributed the incident to elements opposed to the restoration of peace in Kurram while reiterating the provincial government’s commitment to en­­­suring stability and ad­­dr­essing the difficulties faced by the people of Kurram. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the firing, reports APP news agency. In a statement, Presi­dent Zardari emphasised the need for strict action against those who seek to disrupt the peace efforts in Kurram. Prime Minister Shehbaz, in a separate statement, said the attempt has been made to sabotage the peace agreement. He said those trying to disrupt law and order and enemies of humanity would not be allowed to succeed in their designs. Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that “firing on an aid convoy is clear proof of incompetence and failure of the provincial government”. Separately, Interior Minis­ter Mohsin Naqvi and Awami National Party President Ai­­mal Wali Khan on Saturday vociferously condemned the firing on government vehicles. During a meeting, the two expressed solidarity with the DC and other individuals injured in the attack. Mr Naqvi stated that anti-state forces attempted to sabotage the peace agreement, calling the attack a “premeditated conspiracy” to sabotage the peace agreement.