LAKKI MARWAT: Bannu traders and members of civil society organisations continued their protest sit-in for the third day on Thursday against growing lawlessness.

The elders and traders’ leaders had announced to hold the sit-in at the Maulana Abdul Sattar Shah Chowk during a mass gathering for peace attended by thousands of people on Monday.

People from different walks of life visited the protest camp. Elders reached the venue of the sit-in in rallies, while political and social activists from Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan also turned up to express solidarity with the protesters.

On the occasion, Abdul Samad Khan, Irfan Durrani, Shah Wazir, Ghulam Qebaz, Nasir Khan Bangash, Halimzada Wazir, Abdul Rauf Quraishi, Ghulam Diaz Khan, Haji Sherzad Khan and other leaders said that the residents of southern districts were facing the brunt of the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

They said that a former police official had been incarcerated and several elders placed on the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act because they mobilised people for peace.

“Protecting the life and property of people is the responsibility of the state,” they maintained.

They opposed the formation of armed lashkars (private militias) to counter militants and said that the state should realise its prime responsibility to maintain its writ, peace and tranquility.

They reiterated that the protest camp would continue until their demands were accepted.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2024