SHANGLA: The residents of Puran, Martung and Makhozi areas staged a protest rally in Aloch Bazaar on Saturday against the firing on a peace rally in Bannu district on Friday, in which a man was killed and several others were injured.

The rally was called by a local welfare and peace committee of the Puran subdivision led by Noor Mohammad, Rehmanullah Khan, Javed Ali, Mulana Waqas Ahmad and others.

The participants passed through different streets of Aloch Bazaar, while carrying banners, placards and white flags inscribed with slogans for peace. They were shouting slogans for peace and stability in the region.

Addressing the rally, Noor Mohmmad, who is president of the welfare and peace committee of Puran, said they strongly condemned the violence against peaceful protesters in Bannu district, and paid homage to the martyred and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.

He said the state should ‘treat the people equally’ and end the so-called operations in Pakhtun belt. He also called for shunning the notion of good and bad Taliban and ensuring peace and stability in the province.

On the occasion, Rehmanullah alleged the firing on peaceful protesters showed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents were being pushed against the wall.

He condemned what he said terrorism against Pakhtuns and said people would no longer tolerate military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where people were already living in distress.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2024