LAKKI MARWAT: The protest sit-in staged by the residents of Bannu entered the second day on Sunday as people took to the streets in Mardan, Lakki Marwat and Swabi against the firing on a peace rally in the southern district on Friday, which left one participant dead and several others injured.

The sit-in is staged on the call of Bannu Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Leaders of political, nationalist and religious parties visited the protesters, who are camped at the Maulana Abdul Sattar Shah Chowk commonly known as Police Lines Chowk.

People from Lakki and other parts of the province also participated in the protest camp to express solidarity with the residents of Bannu.

The police and administration have made stringent security measures, closing some urban roads to traffic by placing containers on them to avert any untoward incident.

Demonstrations also held in Mardan, Lakki and Swabi against firing on peace rally

Along with deploying additional policemen, security has been beefed up in the district after Friday’s violence during the peace rally.

Mobile phone and internet services remained suspended on the third consecutive day, troubling locals and badly impacting online business activities.

Political leaders, religious scholars, public representatives and members of traders’ bodies addressed the protesters and demanded of the government to establish peace in Bannu and its adjoining areas.

Speaking on the occasion, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain and provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PTI MNA Shehryar Afridi and other leaders said that Pakhtuns would not allow any military operation on their soil as they had reservations on such operations previously launched to eliminate terrorism.

They condemned the firing on the peace rally and declared it a barbarism, asking the state institutions to realise their responsibility and provide protection of life and property to citizens.

They said Pakhtuns had faced killings, disappearances and other distresses during the war on terror, and now they wanted peace on their soil. They said no one could forget the sacrifices of Janikhel, Bakkakhel and other tribes as they faced displacements and became IDPs in the past.

They said peace could not be restored by using force against innocent citizens, asking the government to formulate a strategy in that regard after taking the parliament into confidence.

Mehmood Achakzai, who is also president of Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Aieen-i-Pakistan, strongly condemned what he claimed security forces’ firing on peaceful protesters in Bannu.

He said the protesters, part of a public peace march, were voicing their concerns over the recent wave of terrorism in the region. “Tragically, a participant was martyred and several others were injured due to the direct firing by security forces, leading to the Bannu city being disconnected from rest of the country and the world,” he said.

Mr Achakzai stated that the Constitution of Pakistan was suspended in spirit, with widespread disregard for its principles.

He said the Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly and protest, and any violation of these rights was unacceptable.

Achakzai called on the government to respect and protect the constitutional rights of all citizens.

Mr Achakzai also met with the family of the martyred participant of the peace rally. He expressed his deep condolences and assured his unwavering support.

Bannu Bachao Movement head Pir Qaisar Abbas Shah said the residents of the district would not allow any military operation on their soil nor would they vacate their houses at any cost.

Mardan mayor Himatullah Mayar, National Democratic Movement chairman Mohsin Dawar, former MPA Qari Gul Azeem, Maulana Asad Mehmood of JUI-F, MNAs Shandana Gulzar, Shahid Khattak and Maulana Syed Naseem Ali Shah and provincial minister Malik Pakhtoonyar also attended the protest camp.

The divisional and district administrations continued their efforts for a breakthrough in negotiations with elders on the second consecutive day.

A video clip circulating on a social media platform showed an elder telling the protesters that the peace jirga had presented a charter of demands to the government authorities, and that it would end the agitation once their demands were accepted. The demands include opposition to any military operation, forceful action against all militant and criminal groups and empowering police to take on militants.

Meanwhile, a rally was held outside the press club building in Mardan district with the participants raising slogans to demand peace on the Pakhtuns’ soil.

Prominent among those who addressed the rally included PTI lawmakers Mohammad Atif Khan, Ali Mohammad Khan, provincial minister for food Zahir Shah Khan Toru, Abdus Salam Afridi, Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, Ihtisham Khan, former federal minister Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, former MNA Maulana Shujaul Mulk, Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Zahir Shah Khan, Markaz-i-Tanzeem-i-Tajiran president Ihsan Bachs and others.

The participants were carrying white flags, placards and banners inscribed with slogans advocating peace.

On the occasion, former senior provincial minister Atif Khan asked the federal government and military establishment not to start any operation without the consent of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He lamented that the quarters concerned had been launching new military operations with intervals of every one or two years followed by an announcement that they had broken back of terrorists, but again the terrorists started their activities on Pakhtuns’ and Balochs’ soils.

He urged the military generals to stop their interference in political affairs and keep themselves limited to security of country.

Addressing the rally, Khawaja Hoti urged Pakhtuns to forge unity among their ranks with the purpose to maintain peace and prosperity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ali Mohammad Khan said they wanted to give respect to institutions, but they must also give respect to political leaders.

Ihsan Bacha said the relevant stakeholders should take effective steps to maintain law and order in the country.

Zahir Shah Toru urged leaders of all political parties, trading unions, and people belonging to all schools of thought to set aside their differences and unitedly come out to oppose the planned Azm-i-Istehkam military operation.

Meanwhile, the residents closed the Peshawar-Karachi Highway at Lt Adnan Shaheed Chowk in Tajazai area of Lakki Marwat to protest the firing incident.

The protesters, mostly youths, were holding banners and raised slogans in favour of their demands.

Later, they opened the busy highway keeping in view the troubles faced by the transporters and commuters in hot weather.

On the occasion, a youth leader condemned the growing lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that the residents of Lakki Marwat district stood by the Bannu people in this difficult time and supported their demand for peace.

Meanwhile, people belonging to different walks of life staged a protest demonstration at the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk in Swabi against the firing on the Bannu rally.

The call for the protest was given by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local chapter and Swabi Action Committee (SAC).

The participants holding white flags chanted slogans in favour of peace and opposed any military operation on their soil.

Addressing the protesters, SAC president Nadeem Shah Bacha said peace was a prerequisite for progress and prosperity. He said firing on peaceful protesters was condemnable.

On the occasion, Faisal Khan Tarakai, provincial minister for education, said they stood with the people of terrorism-hit regions. He said war was not a solution to any problem.

Irrigation minister Aqibullah Khan said that people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opposed any new military operation against terrorism.

Abdul Karim, an aide to the chief minister, said that people of Swabi stood by the people of Bannu in their demand for peace.

Separately, a jirga ended its four-day-long agitation following successful negotiations with a government team in Tank district on Sunday.

The jirga members sat outside the deputy commissioner’s office on July 18 in protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the district.

On the fourth day, the participants also placed the body of slain schoolteacher on the road. The teacher was kidnapped and then killed by unknown men.

A 12-member team of the jirga held talks with the government officials.

The jirga ended after the government representatives promised to improve the law-and-order situation in the district within 15 days.

Chief of jirga Maulana Naqibullah Bittani threatened that if serious steps were taken to improve law and order then the jirga would be held again.

MPA Usman Khan Bittani, Pashtun nationalist leaders Malik Akbar Ali, Patu Lala, Sheikh Naseer, Dastagir Bittani, Nadeem, Khalid Marwat and others spoke on the occasion.

All business centres and bazaars remained closed for four days during the course of the jirga.

Speaking at the jirga, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader and former federal minister for communications Asad Mahmood said it was very disheartening that a peaceful area like Tank had become a victim of disturbed law and order situation due to the government ‘apathy’.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2024