Protests were held across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday to denounce the use of force against demonstrators and journalists in the federal capital.
Apart from the provincial capital, demonstrations were held in Charsadda, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Shergarh.
In Peshawar, journalists took strong exception to the violence against their peers as they covered the marches, saying nobody should stop reporters from performing their duties.
A protest was organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists outside the Peshawar Press club. Office bearers of the club and union members said they would continue to fight for the freedom of the press.
The Peshawar Video Journalists Association demanded the immediate suspension of the policemen involved in attacking journalists. It also demanded the removal of the IGP within 48 hours.
In Shangla, PTI’s district chapter condemned police brutality against party activists, saying the actions of the government were cowardly.
During a meeting, PTI Shangla president Rahim Yousafzai said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no right to retain his position and was acting like a monarch.
However, Yousafzai was confident that the sacrifices of PTI workers would not go in vain. The meeting also condemned the use of force against journalists.
Meanwhile, in Charsadda, people from all walks of life joined journalists as they protested against the government’s actions in Islamabad.
The Charsadda Union of Journalists held a rally against police attacks on members of the press. They raised slogans for the freedom of the press, while also condemning the murders of their peers in Mardan and Quetta. Union president Sartaj Khan said the murders of colleagues had become the order of the day and the government was oblivious to the shocking state of affairs in Pakistan.
“Our colleagues are becoming victims of state terrorism for performing their duties. This is beyond [our] understanding,” Sartaj said. Others said the federal government resorted to the open use of force against unarmed people in Islamabad, but remained confident that such tactics would not silence journalists.
Over in Bannu, PTI workers demanded the immediate resignation of PM Sharif and announced they would be joining the Azadi march.
A protest rally was held at Bannu Township Chowk and attended by a large number of workers, apart from the Insaf Students Federation. District leader Imtiaz Khan said party supporters were targeted for raising their voice and vowed to continue the struggle for the rights of people.
In Serai Naurang tehsil of Lakki Marwat district, police kept a close eye on a PTI protest held at Qila Ground. The protest led to Bannu Dera Road being closed for all sorts of traffic.
District president Saleem Nawaz Khan said peaceful demonstrators and journalists were brutally beaten in the capital.
In Mardan, PTI workers in Jalala, Shergarh, blocked Malakand Road and vowed to continue till PTI demands are met.
Local leader Sultan Khan said PTI and PAT were united to rid the nation of cruel rulers who made the lives of people miserable. Commuters faced difficulties as the protest continued for two hours.
Meanwhile, the Insaf Students Federation, like other parts of the province, held a protest and blocked Bannu-Mianwali Road from Lakki Marwat.
Led by Lakki Marwat ISF President Farid Toofan, workers from other affiliated wings of the party were also present. Toofan said workers had taken to the streets to raise their voice against police brutality in the federal capital.
The demonstration marched on different routes, concluding at Kargil Chowk. The workers reiterated their confidence in the party’s central leadership.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2014.
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