KHYBER: Amid vociferous sloganeering, emotionally charged protesters in Landi Kotal on Tuesday called for an immediate arrest of the killers of journalist Khalil Jibran and an end to incidents of targeted killing in different parts of Khyber tribal district.

The protest demonstration was organised by an action committee comprising of local elders, politicians, journalists, local government representatives and civil society members.

The committee was formed after the murder of senior journalist Khalil Jibran on June 18 by unidentified assailants in Mazreena locality of Sultankhel in Landi Kotal.

Since then protest demonstrations have been held both in Khyber and different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand arrest of the killers along with compensation to the deceased’s family and general protection of tribal journalists.

Minister and MPA pledge to raise the issue in provincial assembly

Speakers at the Landi Kotal demonstration expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of law enforcement agencies to restore peace and contain incidents of targeted killing in the region.

They demanded a fair investigation into the murder of Khalil Jibran and reminded security agencies that it was their responsibility to ensure protection of life and property of every citizen.

Amid slogans for peace and abhorring terrorism by the participants of the protest rally, speakers alleged that it was a clear failure of law enforcement agencies that not a single person was so far arrested neither serious investigations were conducted into the murder of the journalist.

About the federal government intentions of launching a new military operation in troubled areas of the country, they vehemently opposed it, saying such exercises had not achieved the desired results in recent past.

They questioned rationale behind launching another military operation when security forces had their presence in every part of the country and were also posted on border in a large number.

Provincial Minister Adnan Qadri and MPA Suhail Afridi said on the occasion that they would raise the issue on the floor of provincial assembly and would ensure that the family of the deceased journalist was duly compensated.

They said that residents of Khyber would not allow anyone to disturb the peace of the area and would continue their protest demonstrations till the arrest of the killers of Khalil Jibran.

Earlier, participants of the demonstration walked about five kilometres from Takiya in Sultankhel to Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal bazaar. They were holding black flags and banners inscribed with slogans in support of their demands. The rally was considered to be the biggest one in recent years in the area.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024