By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Seven protesters were shot and killed outside a military installation in Pakistan’s remote Tirah Valley on Sunday when a demonstration over a young girl’s death turned violent, local media and sources said, intensifying tensions in an already volatile region.
The protest began early Sunday morning when hundreds of tribesmen brought the body of a young girl to the Brigade Headquarters in Bagh-Maidan Markaz. The girl, who locals claim was killed in a mortar strike in the Darbar locality of Peer Mela in Zakhakhel the day before, became a symbol of growing frustration with ongoing military operations in the area.
Dawn newspaper reported that the situation escalated when an angry mob, mostly composed of young men, ignored calls from tribal elders to remain calm. The demonstrators first set fire to an excavator parked outside the military installation and then attempted to force open the garrison’s main gate.
In response, security personnel guarding the installation reportedly opened fire to control the crowd. At least six protesters were killed, and seventeen others sustained bullet injuries, according to local sources.
Videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes: an excavator engulfed in flames, protesters pelting stones at the Brigade Headquarters, and demonstrators scrambling for cover as gunshots rang out.
The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities, including the Frontier Corps Hospital in Shah Kas Jamrud, Dogra Hospital in Bara, and Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar. One of the injured is reported to be in critical condition.
As of Monday, there has been no official statement from the local administration or the military regarding either the alleged mortar strike that killed the girl or the deadly confrontation at the protest. The lack of clarity has fueled anger among residents, who have long complained of the impact of military operations on civilian life in the region.
Following the violence, a delegation of tribal elders from Tirah Valley held a series of meetings with security officials at the Brigade Headquarters. The protesters dispersed after the elders intervened, and security officials, including the local sector commander, assured the elders of their “full support in meeting their legitimate demands,” according to sources who spoke to Dawn.
Officials also expressed sympathy for the families of those killed on Sunday. In a gesture of reconciliation, security forces announced compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured, though specific amounts were not disclosed.
Separately, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government pledged financial support for the victims. A statement from the chief minister’s secretariat expressed grief over the loss of life and announced that the government would provide Rs10 million to the families of each deceased protester and Rs2.5 million to each of the injured.
The statement emphasised the government’s commitment to “sustainable peace, mutual respect, and public safety” and noted that a jirga, or traditional council, of tribal elders and public representatives had been convened to address the community’s concerns. “The district administration and institutions have been directed to strengthen communication with the public and maintain law and order,” the chief minister was quoted as saying.
The incident has sparked further protests and calls for accountability. Later on Sunday, MNA Iqbal Afridi, who represents the NA-27 Khyber constituency, and MPA Abdul Ghani led a demonstration at Bab-i-Khyber in Jamrud to condemn the violence.
They demanded a “transparent judicial enquiry” into the incident and called for adequate compensation for the victims. The lawmakers also voiced opposition to the ongoing military operation in Tirah Valley, urging that peace be restored without displacing local residents.
Media reported that the protest in Jamrud reflects broader discontent in the region, where residents have reported civilian casualties due to military actions. In Peer Mela, locals claim that mortar shelling by security forces has killed at least three people in the past ten days. They allege that these strikes are part of operations targeting armed militant groups in Zakhakhel, Shalobar, Adakhel, and Malakdin Khel localities. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
