Last updated on August 27th, 2024 at 07:09 pm
Pakistan: KPK, One person was killed and 22 others injured when gunshots triggered a stampede at a march in the city of Bannu on Friday. Thousands had rallied there as the march was organised by the local traders and political parties, urging the authorities to provide more security in the district. The participants waved white flags as a sign of peace.
Eyewitness accounts said this inflamed the situation as the rally moved towards the Bannu cantonment and torched the tents pitched by the security forces to protect the incomplete portion of the wall, damaged recently by a terrorist attack.
Sensing the depth of the situation, local authorities rushed to prevent further deterioration of the situation, as administration called an immediate jirga of the local elders in a bid to pacify the situation.
On the other hand, activists and rights organizations took to social media, declaring that the figures of death were far higher than being reported, and decried the violence. Meanwhile, the PTI core committee strongly condemned the Bannu carnage and directed its provincial government in KP to conduct a transparent inquiry into the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
“The situation in Bannu is under control and police have been put on high alert in sensitive areas,” KP Government spokesman Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif told X.
He said KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced to form a commission for the probe into the incident. “The commission will conduct an impartial investigation and submit a report.
He also called for using utmost vigilance in the face of a “growing wave of terrorism,” and said antagonistic elements against the state would not be allowed to sabotage peace in the province.
Saif said the public should wait for the commission’s report and desist from spreading or indulging in “negative propaganda” of unverified information.
The people of the area continued their protest and sit-in outside the Bannu Police Line Chowk in front of the main entrance of the cantonment. They urged the high-ups to conduct a proper investigation about the incident of firing.
“We held a rally for peace yesterday and will continue to do so,” said a speaker. “We do not accept the presence of any armed group in Bannu,” he added.
Another speaker said those responsible for maintaining the peace needed to do their duties.
It means that the local authorities have even blocked the mobile networks and internet services after the firing. In fact, the Wi-Fi system and landline phones were also suspended, which was highly inconvenient.
Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan shared on X that thousands participated in the sit-in with white flags. “They have one demand: ‘We don’t want unrest or bombing but only peace in our land’,” he stressed.
He further said mobile phone services were suspended in Bannu since yesterday and the roads were blocked with the placing of containers.
Bannu Attack
At least eight military personnel were killed during a terrorist attack on the Bannu Cantonment earlier this week. Such incidents are also against the spirit of the brotherly relationship between the two countries,” the FO said.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense because of the outlawed militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group and frequent border skirmishes. Last month, the Afghan defense ministry’s spokesman reacted angrily to the remarks of Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who claimed Pakistan would target TTP hideouts in Afghanistan.
This came after the leadership of the Afghanistan interim government held a meeting with Pakistani officials in Doha earlier this month aimed at easing tensions following the announcement of a fresh operation against the TTP.
Taliban delegation leader Zabihullah Mujahid, in comments following the Doha conference, described his meeting with Pakistani diplomats as “good” and expressed his hope that “positive relations” with Pakistan would be developed.
