Protest staged against aerial firing in Landi Kotal

Teachers, pupils block road after stray bullets kill one, injure another student

LANDI KOTAL: The representative body of private schools in the Landi Kotal Tehsil staged a protest and blocked the Pak-Afghan Highway for an hour after a student was killed and another injured due to aerial firing.

“We want to register our protest against excessive aerial firing during the wedding season and also against testing of weapons in the Khyber tribal district,” All Private Schools Association President Shehzad Afridi told The Express Tribune. “We have submitted several applications in the DC office of the Khyber district to curb aerial firing."

He was standing amid teachers, principals, staff members, and students of various schools in Landi  Kotal who were taking part in the protest.

Many local people also joined the picket line to raise their voice against the archaic tradition of aerial firing, which is part of Pakhtun culture to express joy.

He said the recent incidents have enraged the family, friends and the community people of the deceased and the injured student. “In the past too, many people have died due to senseless firing in the air,” Afridi added.

The protestors were carrying placards, banners and also the pictures of the injured and deceased student. They chanted slogans against the civil administration and relevant authority, which had played no role in curbing the menace of aerial firing.

Association’s VP Saif Ullah, while carrying a placard against aerial firing, said that every individual of the society should play role against this insane activity, which has left many families devastated on joyous occasions.