KHYBER: Authorities on Friday reopened the Bara Bazaar after three days, following negotiations with the traders’ body.

President of the Bara traders’ association Said Ayaz told Dawn that the markets were reopened after a series of negotiations between his association and security and administration officials.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Bara Siyasi Ittehad leaders also attended the meeting.

He said that both the security and administration officials were insisting on not holding any political gathering or protest demonstration in any part of Khyber as an emergency had been declared in the district, suspending all the fundamental rights of citizens.

TTAP leaders visit restive region, express sympathies with residents

He said that officials concerned wanted a firm assurance from both the traders’ association and the political parties and organisations to abide by the ban and refrain from any violence or causing any damage to either state or private properties.

He said that after a lengthy discussion with all the stakeholders, his association assured the authorities of creating a peaceful environment in the region.

Bara Bazaar witnessed some bloody clashes on Wednesday when PTI supporters clashed with riot police after they were refused permission to hold a protest demonstration at Khyber Chowk.

Scores of protesters and some policemen sustained injuries due to clashes. The enraged protesters also torched some official buildings when police resorted to firing.

Bara Bazaar remained closed since Wednesday, with all the exit and entry roads effectively sealed and additional personnel deployed in most parts of Bara to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) paid a visit to Bara and expressed sympathies with the residents on Friday.

Leaders of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas, respectively, along with PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar, were among the TTAP leaders.

They condemned the police’s use of force against PTI supporters and termed it a blatant violation of both basic human rights and the Constitution of Pakistan, as peaceful protests are the constitutional right of every citizen.

Raja Nasir Abbas assured the people of Bara in particular and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general that TTAP would not leave them alone in this time of grief.

He said that sacrifices rendered by Pakhtuns for their region’s peace could not be ignored and TTAP would not tolerate the trampling of their constitutional rights by anyone.

The TTAP leaders demanded a judicial enquiry into the direct fire at the ‘innocent and unarmed’ protesters in Bara, with exemplary punishment for those found guilty of the ‘heinous crime’.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026