KHYBER: Three people were injured and a number of shops and kiosks were damaged as supporters of two political parties attacked each other in Bara Bazaar here on Thursday.

Sources said that the Awami National Party had established a protest camp in Bara Bazaar to express solidarity with the displaced families from Tirah, while a group of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf supporters wanted their party flag to be hoisted at the site of the protest.

They added that the ANP supporters tried to prevent PTI workers from hoisting their flag, leaving them upset at the “undue interference” in their protest.

Supporters of the two parties first had heated exchanges and later got engaged in physical attacks, which left at least three people injured.

After learning about the clash, the police showed up and fired gunshots in the air to disperse the angry supporters of both parties, according to witnesses.

They said some members of the crowd also fired in the air.

The incident caused panic among the Bara Bazaar traders and shopkeepers, who fled.

Sources said that some miscreants looted cash from deserted shops, while valuables were also stolen from shops.

However, the situation was controlled after the intervention of Bara Tahir Ittehad’s members and the president of Bara Siyasi Ittehad who calmed down the charged activists of both parties.

Later at the Bara Press Club, BSI president Hashim Khan Afridi condemned the incident and called upon both political parties to show restraint and political maturity.

He insisted that protests and demonstrations were a democratic right of every political party and organisation, so disrupting such gatherings was a regrettable trend in the current situation when people of Tirah were going through difficult times.

Mr Afridi said that BSI was in contact with the parties and hopefully the issue would be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, the Bara Tajir Ittehad submitted an application to the district administration demanding a complete ban on all political protests in Bara Bazaar.

Said Ayaz, a senior leader of the Ittehad, said the business was seriously affected with such incidents that also caused fear among Bara traders and market visitors.

“We condemn the incident in the strongest possible words and demand of the deputy commissioner to impose Section 144 for an indefinite period in order to discourage such incidents,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026