ISLAMABAD: Members of the Mehsud tribe protested outside the National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday against the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi and demanded the arrest of Rao Anwar, the fugitive senior superintendent of the Sindh police (SSP).

The rally then turned into a sit-in, and protesters said that if their demands were not met they would hold their next sit-in in front of General Headquarters (GHQ).

People settled all over the country travelled to the capital to protest the Naqeebullah’s killing in an alleged encounter by a police team led by former SSP Malir Rao Anwar.

Mr Anwar, who is still evading court orders, recently attempted to leave the country but was stopped by immigration officers at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

The protesters arrived in a caravan organised by the Mehsud Tahafuz Movement.

The organisers said their movement was an apolitical drive for the rights of residents of the Fata, mainly the Mehsud tribe.

The caravan left D.I. Khan on Jan 26, and used social media to spread its message and information on its destination.

As fiery speeches continued from a stage set up on the main road opposite the NPC, tribal elders finalised four key demands that were announced at the protest.

They demanded the arrest of Mr Anwar and that details of the proceedings by the police and other authorities be shared with tribal elders, as well as the establishment of a judicial commission in this regard.

Their other two demands related to insurgency and military operations in North and South Waziristan.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018