PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party has expressed concern about the recovery of mutilated bodies of three young men in Bannu district and demanded an independent inquiry into the killings.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said the killing of innocent people and dumping their bodies had caused serious unrest in the province, so it should be properly probed for action against culprits.

He said four young women were killed in the area in Feb and four men in March, while three bodies were recovered in the current month.

“The law-enforcement agencies should probe these killings and arrest the culprits,” he said. The ANP leader said it was the duty of the state to ensure the protection of the people’s lives.

He said the killings were tantamount to the genocide of Pakhtuns that should be stopped forthwith. Mr Aimal also demanded the arrest of the people involved in the targeted killing of a police official.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2021