BAJAUR: A protest sit-in for improvement of law and order in the region continued on seventh consecutive day here on Thursday despite rain.

The leaders of the protesters pledged that they would not end the sit-in without getting strong assurance from the authorities to accept their demands.

People from all walks of life, mostly political and social activists, attended the sit-in in a large number despite rain. Besides locals, a delegation of Khyber tribal district, led by former MNA Haji Shahji Gul Afridi, also attended the sit-in.

The district chapter of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam has organised the sit-in.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Afridi said that such peaceful demonstrations were necessary to draw attention of the authorities towards the law and order situation in all the tribal districts. He said that law and order was badly disturbed during the last few months in tribal districts.

He lauded the leaders of political and religious parties and social activists for showing unity to raise the issue of law and order by arranging the sit-in.

The former MNA termed the demands of the protesters valid and asked both the federal and provincial governments to initiate concrete steps to resolve the issues raised by the participants of the sit-in. He also announced Rs100,000 for the sit-in as financial support.

On Thursday, a number of political and religious leaders including former governor Eng Shaukatullah Khan, former PPP MNA Syed AkhunzadaChattan, JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Bajaur Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Haji Lali Shah and ANP leader Maulana Khan Zeb addressed the sit-in.

The speakers flayed the federal and provincial government for not taking the sit-in seriously. They said that the demonstration would continue until their demands were addressed.

Later talking to reporters, Maulana Rasheed said that leadership of political and religious parties and elders decided to continue the demonstration until the authorities promised resolution of their issues.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2022