Bara massacre: Parties flay provincial government for using force against protesters

Say people have the right to protest peacefully; JI stages multiple demonstrations.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ KOHAT/ PESHAWAR:

Political parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) seem adamant to side with the Bara tribesmen, who seem to be receiving little assurance from the provincial government which resorted to force Wednesday night to disperse protesters.

Rallies and demonstrations, however, continued for the third day on Thursday over the alleged killing of 18 tribesmen in Alam Gudar area of Bara tehsil by security forces. While Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and student federations also voiced support for the beleaguered tribesmen, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was at the forefront.

JI’s provincial wing staged a demonstration joined by hundreds of protesters at Hashtnagri chowk in the provincial capital. The party’s provincial chief Professor Muhammad Ibrahim condemned the use of tear gas and batons by the police to disperse participants of the sit-in outside the Governor House Wednesday night, saying violence against innocent protesters was not only a violation of law, but also against Pukhtun traditions and Islamic teachings.

Demanding the resignations of K-P governor and chief minister, Ibrahim said they had failed to protect those staging a peaceful demonstration.

He also demanded an immediate end to military operations and said security forces should vacate the tribal belt.

“Until military operations are not stopped, JI would be protesting in the streets and will always stand by the tribal people to help secure peace for the region,” said JI’s provincial chief while addressing the convention.

Another JI rally was held at Town Hall in DI Khan. District chief Maulana Samiullah accused the government of being involved in the massacre and demanded monetary compensation for the bereaved families.

JI’s leader from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Haroon-ur-Rasheed said people from these tribal areas did not deserve what the government was doing with them.

Meanwhile, the country’s largest opposition party also demanded a prompt inquiry into the killings. PML-N’s provincial president, MPA Pir Sabir Shah termed the incident a tragedy and said the government should immediately nab the culprits.

“The tribal people have the right of peaceful protest. The government is rubbing salt to their wounds by resorting to torture to disperse protesters,” he added.

KUST students stage demonstration

Elsewhere, Khyber and Afridi student organisations from Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) staged a demonstration at the Kohat Press club.

Students holding placards and banners demanded an end to the military operation and firing of mortar shells on residential areas in the troubled Bara tehsil.

They insisted the government form a commission to investigate the ‘extra-judicial killings’ and resolve issues through negotiations.

The military operation and prolonged curfew in Bara have destroyed the education system, health centres and business areas, maintained the protesters. They felt their generation was being persecuted and deprived of basic human rights.

Thousands of women, children and the elderly were compelled to stay in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Jalozai in severe cold weather, students said.

When the Hazaras protested for their rights, the government swung into action and negotiated with them, said one member of the student societies. After the Bara massacre, the bodies went missing and concerned officials remained silent, he added.

Journalists were urged not to publish the names of protesting students to avoid problems with their varsity’s administration and other elements. The protest ended peacefully at around 12:30pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2013.