Bannu protesters present 10 demands to end sit-in
Protesters run as gunfire broke out during a protest after the recent suicide attack by militants on an army enclave in Bannu on July 19. PHOTO: AFP
A protest sit-in in Bannu continued for a second consecutive day on Sunday, as tribal elders presented 10 demands to the local administration for the resolution of the issues during the first round of talks, officials and protest leaders said.
The sit-in in the Police Line Chowk was attended by a large number of people despite extreme heat. Many politicians and tribal elders participated and announced their support for the protesters. The local administration had summoned more police force from other districts for security.
Awami National Party (ANP) Provincial President Mian Iftikhar, provincial cabinet members, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shandana Gulzar and Shehryar Afridi, tribal elders of Lakki Marwat and the Khattak Alliance leaders announced their support to the protesters.
The sit-in participants unanimously decided to form a 30-member committee, with the mandate to negotiate with the government. The committee comprised four sitting and two former lawmakers, besides representative of traders, Ulema, lawyers and journalists.
With the formation of the committee efforts were intensified by the administration to find a solution to the issue. The protesters said that they only wanted peace and that there should not be Azm-e-Istehkam operation.
The committee leaders held the first round of talks with the administration in which they presented 10 demands and gave the authorities until 10am Monday (today) for their acceptance. They said that they will continue their protest alongside the negotiations.
The demands include opposition to the Azm-e-Istehkam operation, elimination of armed groups, police patrols at night, search operations or actions against terrorists to be taken by the Counter-Terrorism Department only, and court appearance of the missing persons.
According to sources, progress was expected in the negotiations if the committee leaders showed flexibility. So far, the committee leaders said that they had decided to continue with the protest and the talks with administration simultaneously.