BAJAUR: The people of Bajaur district staged a ‘peace rally’ on Wednesday and urged the authorities to take concrete measures to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.

Bajaur Aman Jirga organised the rally.

Carrying white flags, the participants blocked the Bajaur-Peshawar and Khar-Inayat Kallay roads, chanted slogans and demanded peace.

Speaking on the occasion, Bajaur Aman Jirga chief Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, ANP district president Gul Afzal Khan, PTI’s Dr Khalilur Rehman, JUI-F’s Haji Akbar Jan and others said the region had been facing unrest for the last two years.

They regretted that despite months-long operations and the displacement of hundreds of families from different areas last year, peace could not be achieved.

They said residents had been distressed mentally, economically and socially. They alleged that terrorism had cost the lives of several civilians and police personnel and affected education and businesses.

They said people were no longer willing to tolerate the continued unrest and insecurity.

The speakers criticised local PTI MPAs and the MNA for not raising the issue in the parliament. They also criticised the PTI lawmakers for not participating in the peace rally.

“We will socially boycott the three MPAs from our party if they do not play an active role in ensuring lasting peace in the region,” said Dr Khalilur Rehman, senior vice-president of the local PTI chapter.

The speakers also demanded that civilians be spared during operations against terrorists and called for compensation for those killed or injured in operations and targeted incidents.

The speakers warned that if concrete measures were not taken, they would hold demonstrations in Bajaur, Peshawar and Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2026