PM to celebrate Independence Day with IDPs in Bannu‏

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would be celebrating Independence Day festivities in Bannu with those displaced as a result of the ongoing military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Official sources said the prime minister will be present at the Independence Day ceremony which will be held at the Baka Khel camp for Internally Displaced Persons in Bannu.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-General Khalid Rabbani would be hoisting the national flag on Independence Day at the camp, while Prime Minister Sharif will join the celebrations with the IDPs later on.

The prime minister will be visiting Bannu at a time when the PTI will be marching on Islamabad to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet and provincial legislators including Chief Minister Pervez Khattak were busy taking off for the long march as the first convoy of some 200 workers led by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Sajid Nawaz and Member of Provincial Assembly Jehandad Khan have started their journey on foot.

The PTI leaders said that the convoy would later be joined by party workers in Nowshera, Swabi, Jehangira and other cities and would march on foot to Islamabad.

PTI Long March IDPS

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Kaleem

Aug 13, 2014 12:15pm

Suggestion: PTI must also spend a high profile leader at this event, just to tell everyone that despite political differences, we are one on national issues.

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boiz

Aug 13, 2014 12:33pm

point scoring

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Khurram

Aug 13, 2014 12:39pm

Where was he on Eid? It is too late now ...

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Nafees

Aug 13, 2014 12:43pm

May be PM should also travel a little further to show solidarity with the troops .

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irfan baloch

Aug 13, 2014 12:43pm

Too late mr PM You will only receive hostility from those people because they know you are visiting for your self interest since you are in trouble politically

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Haider Rehman

Aug 13, 2014 12:44pm

DAWN please publish my comment! Am am a loyal reader of this website and the newspaper. He once came to the jinazah of two shaheed Army Officers in Chaklala Cantt Rwp before the operations. He looked annoyed, didn't give any speech to encourage our brave soldiers. I was very surprised at his attitude. I wonder what he had been doing if not even attending parliment sessions. (Gen Raheel was in China then but Joint chief of staff came.)

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M.M.Sherazi

Aug 13, 2014 12:49pm

Such morale bolstering patriotic motions of the PM shall bring harmony and compatibility amongst the nation.

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usman

Aug 13, 2014 12:53pm

He is playing politics. Too late to show something and YES he is very afraid from PTI or else he dont even bother to come yesterday for a speech...... Still people who believe PMLN is look after poor they are stupid. PMLN only behind business for themselves onlyyyyyyyyy.

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Hassan

Aug 13, 2014 12:58pm

Great! While Muslim Shower Khan is agitating, PM is making a point that he isn't really bothered. Muslim Shower Khan can agitate and PM will go on about the routine business of the state.

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Awais

Aug 13, 2014 01:00pm

Good move by PM but lame tactic to score points after what atrocities he has done.

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Khwaja

Aug 13, 2014 01:05pm

Political maneuvering. The prime minister is trying to twist and turn his way out of the current crisis. I wonder how the 'lion' characterization has stuck to this party for so long.

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Israr Khan Ismailzai

Aug 13, 2014 01:30pm

Easier to leave the country in case if things get ugly.

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Peshawar wala

Aug 13, 2014 01:37pm

He wants to hide among the IDP's. Whose loyalties to Pakistan are suspect. These IDP's don't consider themselves Pakistanis. Though they will take the free food.

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Pakistani

Aug 13, 2014 01:44pm

Just a political stint.

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Parvez

Aug 13, 2014 01:45pm

Desperation................written all over.

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ahed

Aug 13, 2014 01:58pm

where is Asad Omer and Hamid KHan

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Naeem Syed

Aug 13, 2014 02:05pm

He only comes out of hiding when there is a photo op, or to score a point. As usual he is in Bannu when he should be facing the wrath of the People. He learnt that lesson from Zardari, where there is a problem stay as far away as possible,and the problem will go away. We thought that as this was his third crack at being a statesman he may have learnt from his past mistakes, but the only thing he and his family have learnt is that get it quick, make sure their passports are current with an Umrah Visa, and be ready to go the moment the boots hit the ground.

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Mamu

Aug 13, 2014 02:07pm

Good that the PM is not following the foot steps of Imran Khan.

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Raghu

Aug 13, 2014 02:10pm

@Kaleem Thank you for the suggestion. But my friend PTi had already done it. Maybe Media did not cover it. But Imran Khan spent his previous EID with IDP's.

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Dr. Sadaf

Aug 13, 2014 02:12pm

Another political stunt, do they ever get tired of all these games. Running away or showing solidarity difficult to say.

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Sami Ullah Swati

Aug 13, 2014 02:28pm

Waziristan neglected for over 60 years on socio-economic terms. Now we all out there at the spur of the moment. Is this is a fishy move by the PM?

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Rajiv

Aug 13, 2014 02:31pm

Good idea... he is very smart... he just wants to stay away from Islamabad and Lahore and its great option for him..

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Dr Khan:

Aug 13, 2014 02:37pm

True leader doing something meaningful for the nation.Great message on independence day.Imran Khan should also think positive at least on independence day rather than causing chaos and disruption in collaboration with Qadri gangs

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Kashmiri

Aug 13, 2014 03:32pm

@Peshawar wala Bro don't write such comments which put question mark on the loyality of Tribals of Waziristan. They are pakistanis at core with pride & high degree of loyality to the beloved nation.

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Shah

Aug 13, 2014 04:02pm

So PM will not sit it out in Islamabad when the million man march hits the capital. Last time President Zardari "escaped" to Karachi. Great culture! The rulers retire in Dubai or England. The rulers run away when people come out in the streets.

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Zain

Aug 13, 2014 04:05pm

Noora kushti. lol

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Omair

Aug 13, 2014 04:57pm

A fake IDP camp will be set in PM house

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Blister

Aug 13, 2014 05:38pm

This family only functions when they feel the heat. Then they jump to attention and try and look busy - doing nothing!!

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SMQ Zaman

Aug 13, 2014 05:47pm

That's the way to celebrate the 67th Day of Independence (14th August), Mr Prime Minister, and to 'lead from the front' and show 'strong & visible Leadership' and show your 'humility', 'compassion', 'motivate', and provide 'hope' to the displaced families and persons (almost 1m IDP's in total, and esp. the poverty-stricken people in refugee camps) of North Waziristan, even though the cynics and protesters will allege that it's a political strategy! But, the 'true democrats' hope & pray that "Faith, Unity, and Discipline" will be upheld and 'peaceful & civilised protest - Azadi March' maintained by all concerned - Political Parties and the Protesters - en route and in Islamabad and the Establishment & the Government of Pakistan must take the lead in maintaining 'law & order without provocation' in order to ensure that matters do not get out-of-control, as the World watches you all on the 14th August. From: A conscientious and deeply-concerned British-Pakistani national, a professional, and an Intl. Development management consultant

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Sheraz Imtiaz

Aug 13, 2014 07:31pm

Good decision by PM NS.

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Solomon2

Aug 13, 2014 07:44pm

Why would this trip be announced ahead of time and why would it be announced by the ISPR rather than Nawaz Sharif's office?

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Lucky Star

Aug 13, 2014 08:18pm

@Nafees And you stay on your laptop!

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Lucky Star

Aug 13, 2014 08:20pm

@usman And IK is very innocent and not playing politics at all!

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Lucky Star

Aug 13, 2014 08:21pm

Good decision on the part of PM. GO IK, waste your and your die-hard blind followers time.

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Lucky Star

Aug 13, 2014 08:55pm

@Omair Really. Rumor spreaders lose their faith.

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usman

Aug 13, 2014 10:22pm

political gimmick

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indoaryan

Aug 13, 2014 11:59pm

The IDPs at Bannu need food, water,shelter, medicines and a more permanent settlement arrangements. These people have been unlucky in that they have been displaced from their homes for no fault of their own. People of Pakistan despite suffering many hardships themselves need to dig deep into their pockets to help their less fortunate country men.

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jan

Aug 14, 2014 02:49am

I was there when they started march on foot from Peshawar to Islamabad. They were not 200 but 120 persons.

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Pakistani

Aug 14, 2014 03:46am

That makes him just an hours flight to UAE

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imran

Aug 15, 2014 11:24am

Any news that nawaz sharif fulfilled this promise or just point scoring??