Thousands march for peace in Lakki Marwat

Tens of thousands of local residents once again took to the streets in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to protest against the on-going wave of terrorism.

They demanded of the government to change its policy of appeasement and crackdown against the terrorists with its full might to eliminate the curse and bring peace to the province.

The peace rally was attended by district Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Azizullah Khan, district President Awami National Party (ANP) Malik Ali Sarwar Khan, district President of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Amirzada Khattak, Malik Waqar Ahmad Khan, Inamullah Khan, Engineer Ehsanullah, and Chairman Ali Khan.

They addressed the rally participants, saying there was no shortage of natural resources in Lakki Marwat.

They pointed out that natural gas as well as lime stone and oil reserves have been found here but still there was no mechanism to pay the district its royalty. They alleged that a mafia based in Sindh and Punjab was responsible for the district’s troubles.

“Poverty is widespread in the district and local residents are not being provided jobs in these projects too. Local resources are not being spent on local people,” they observed, saying that Waziristan-like situation was also being created in the district which is really unfortunate.

We will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of the district as locals on both sides are being killed and there is no end in sight to these things.

“Peace is our birth right and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure establishing its writ and bringing peace. We will not stop protests till complete peace is established,” said the speakers.

The speakers also urged political workers, social activists and local residents to join their protest to put maximum pressure on the government.

It may be mentioned here that Lakki Marwat is one of the most volatile districts of K-P where terrorists have managed to stage deadly attacks on police in recent months.

Police stations are regularly attacked and police parties are ambushed with deadly effectiveness. Security forces and police have also killed dozens of terrorists in large scale operations.