Bannu erupts in anti-terror protest

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Sunday for a protest demonstration in Bannu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, to protest against the ongoing issues of lawlessness and inflation in the region.

The demonstration was attended by prominent political figures, including Manzoor Pashteen, head of the Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Sardar Hussain Babak of the Awami National Party (ANP), and local leaders and elders.

The protest was held outside the Bannu Press Club, where speakers addressed the participants, highlighting the negative effects of state policies on the region resulting in the wanton killing of Pakhtuns for decades.

They said that gas was being produced in Waziristan and Karak, so it should be provided to Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Waziristan first rather than to districts located hundreds of kilometers away.

“Pakhtun land has been turned into a laboratory where some people are making all kinds of experiments at the expense of local peace and law and order,” they remarked.

They called for the establishment of a refinery in Bannu to process the oil produced in Waziristan and for the provision of gas to local areas.

“The case of Hanif Pashteen should be decided within 15 days otherwise we will stage another sit-in outside the judicial complex,” they added.

“There is no unity among the Pashto-speaking people against the evil designs of those people who want to divide and rule. This trend should be discouraged,” they urged.

The recent protests across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, triggered by the return of TTP militants and the kidnapping of a police DSP, have shown a united front against terrorism and have led to a relative peace in the region, they noted.

The speakers emphasized the need for unity among Pashto-speaking individuals in order to combat the oppressors and bring about an end to terrorism.

It may be mentioned here that large scale protests had erupted across K-P ever since the return of TTP in Swat in August last year which was followed by the kidnapping of police DSP along with his gunmen and several deadly attacks at former peace committee members in Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2023.