KHYBER: Rallies and jirgas were held in various cities on Sunday to voice opposition to the government’s plan to launch Azm-i-Istehkam military operation against militants.

Scores of Shalobar youth activists in Bara tehsil of Khyber district took out a motorcycle rally against any possible military offensive.

Led by president Pakhtun Student Federation’s Khyber chapter Abdul Wadud, the participants were holding white flags and placards inscribed with slogans for peace and rejection of military operation.

The rally started from Bara tehsil offices and then took a round of Shalobar, Malakdinkhel, Kamarkhel, Akkakhel, Sipah and Qambarkhel localities before converging at the Bara Bazaar.

Organisers said law and order situation had deteriorated in Bara with incidents of targeted killing on the rise.

Participants call for stopping infiltration of militants from borders

They said the Bara youth would continue to raise voice against the worsening law and order situation.

They said people of Khyber had been badly affected by the militancy and military operations in the recent past, and would not allow anyone to disturb the peace to make excuse for launching a new military offensive.

They said thousands of militancy-hit Bara families were still living in miserable conditions. They said military operations always resulted in displacement of large number of people.

Meanwhile, Bannu Qaumi Jirga has asked the police to play a proactive role to maintain peace in the region.

The Jirga met at Qazir Fazal Qadir Shaheed Park in Bannu city on Sunday to discuss matters pertaining to law and order situation and government’s decision to launch an operation against militants in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu.

The participants, who also included MNA Maulana Syed Naseem Ali Shah, regretted that police remained restricted to police stations after dusk, giving miscreants free hand to carry out their activities.

They said lawlessness and insecurity had been prevailing in the region for last two years. They said several policemen and elders had been targeted by militants in last couple of years.

They rejected any kind of operation in the region and asked the government and law enforcement agencies to focus on targeted and intelligence-based operations to eliminate militants.

They also stressed the need for activating the peace committee.

In Bajaur, scores of people on Sunday participated in a rally organised by Jamaat-i-Islami to protest the proposed military operation in the district.

During the rally, the main road remained closed to traffic for couple of hours.

The participants, many of them holding party flags, chanted anti-operation slogans, saying they were not ready for more military actions in their region.

JI district chief Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed, Haji Sardar Khan, party candidate for PK-22 by-election Abid Khan, Mohammad Hamid Sufi and others addressed the rally.

The speakers said the rally was held to oppose the proposed fresh military operation in the province announced by the PML-N-led federal government about a week ago.

Meanwhile, elders of Salarzai tehsil at a jirga also repeated their resolve to oppose the planned military operation until the local lawmakers, politicians and elders were taken into confidence over the issue.

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People from different walks of life, including elders, youths and political activists, attended the jirga.

In Lower Dir, the Talash Dushkhel Qaumi Jirga on Sunday opposed the planned military operation and demanded of the federal and provincial governments and the army chief to handle the intruding militants on the borders.

The jirga, represented by over 300 elders, organised a session in Kalpani Talash with its president Mohammad Ibrahim in the chair.

The speakers were of the view that Dir was a peaceful district and its people would not let anyone to disturb peace. They said the residents were not ready to accept militancy and military operation on their soil.

They vowed the people would not leave their homes at any cost. The speakers demanded of the government and security agencies to stop infiltration of militants on the borders.

The jirga asked the federal government to review its decision regarding the launch of Azm-i-Istehkam operation. Later, the participants held a peace walk.

A peace march was also organised in Munda area the other day to voice opposition to any military action in Lower Dir.

The march was organised by Shalkandi Youth Jirga, which was attended mostly by students and youth. The participants carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against militancy and in favour of peace.

The jirga’s chairman, Mufti Izaz Ali Shah, said they would not let any bloodshed in the area. He said it was the professional responsibility of the security forces to provide peaceful environment to the people.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024