PESHAWAR: The workers of Awami National Party on Wednesday took to streets in different districts to protest the murder of Musawir Dawar, the nominee of the party for local government polls in Mirali, North Waziristan tribal district.

In Peshawar, the protesters held a rally outside press club. Holding banners and placards, the protesters also disrupted traffic flow for some time.

Besides MPAs Khush Dil Khan and Shagufta Malik, senior leaders of the party including Syed Aqil Shah and Dr Sohail also spoke on the occasion and condemned the murder of ANP activist.

The protesters said that government failed to protect people, particularly the candidates for local government elections.

They said that it was the duty of the government to arrest the people involved in the murder of their party activist and ensure protection to the citizens.

The protesters also condemned police raid on a musical event in Peshtakhara and described it an illegal action.

In Lakki Marwat, the protesters marched on Old Kutchery Road and gathered outside the press club building. Holding red flag, the protesters were led by ANP district president Malik Ali Sarwar Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarwar Khan said that Musawir Dawar was shot dead by attackers in Mirali town the other day, exposing poor security arrangements for local bodies’ polls in the tribal district.

“The ANP leaders and activists are being targeted and killed but government is unable to trace the killers,” he said. He said that government was a silent spectator to the massacre of Pakhtuns.

The ANP leader said that they wanted to know who was behind the killing of Pakhtuns, especially the leaders and workers of ANP.

“In first phase of local government elections, ANP candidate for tehsil chairman seat had been killed in Dera Ismail Khan and now another aspirant was targeted in the second phase of polls,” he said. He asked the government to trace the killers of Musawir Dawar and bring them to justice.

In Swabi, ANP were held a protest at Karnal Sher Khan Chowk against the killing of Masawir Dawar.

Led by ANP district president Amanullah Khan, the protesters gathered at the party’s office and marched to Karnal Sher Khan Chowk. They chanted slogans against government.

Speaking on the occasion, Amanullah Khan said that every person had the right to live with dignity and honour. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide adequate security to all citizens of the country without any discrimination.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2022