Unrest grips Bannu after peace rally

Protester reportedly killed, 26 others injured

BANNU:

A protester was reportedly killed while 26 others were injured when a ‘peace rally’ leading to Bannu Cannt allegedly came under fire.

The peace demonstration was attended by activists of all local political parties, traders, civil society and people from different walks of life. It was the first ‘peace rally’ of the ‘Aman Pasun’. The demonstrators were chanting, ‘we want peace’.

In the wake of the firing incident on the peace rally, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department declared a health emergency in all public sector hospitals in district Bannu with immediate effect.

The health department’s notification stated the entire healthcare staff, including doctors and paramedics, is put on high alert to handle the emergent situation and mitigate the prospects of loss to human lives.

Commenting on the incident, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandpur has taken notice of the situation in Bannu and has sought a report of the incident.

He said that the commissioner and deputy commissioner were negotiating with the protesters, adding the K-P chief minister has announced a financial package for the dead and injured. However, he asserted that no one would be allowed to take law into their hands in the guise of protest.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from political leaders, lawyers and human rights organizations.

Reacting on the incident, ANP president Aimal Wali Khan said the firing on the participants of a peace rally is a shameful act, which proves that the state is standing with extremism rather than peace.

He said the ANP condemns the firing on unarmed protesters, adding the party supports all legitimate demands of the rally participants.

Aimal Wali described the act as a conspiracy to push the people into a civil war. He demanded an inquiry into the incident and called for taking those responsible to task.

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council vice chairman Sadiq Ali Momand and executive committee chairman Syed Taimur Ali Shah also condemned the firing incident. They demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the episode.

They urged the federal and provincial governments to resolve the issue amicably to avoid the loss of innocent lives. The K-P Bar Council announced boycott of court proceedings across the province on Saturday (today).

Moreover, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the incident and urged the provincial and federal governments to engage with the protestors.

In a statement, the HRCP called for addressing the protesters’ legitimate concerns and holding to account those responsible. Moreover, any actions taken to restore law and order in the region must be debated transparently in parliament and account for the rights of those affected, stated the HRCP.