Bannu: Post-Incident Public questions

Bannu Peace sit-in

Almost a week ago, a terrorist incident took place in Bannu, there was a lot of agitations and anger in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and Bannu district in particular. As a result of this incident, there was one of the biggest public protests in the history of Bannu to restore peace. In which common people and regional Jirga leaders (Mashran) from different districts including Bannu, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat and district Karak participated. On the very first day of Peaceful protest, an incident of straight firing happened on the protestors. Where one man (named Sadullah of 30 years old) was killed and 29 other people were injured in the result of firing. Then the public anger increased even more in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the southern districts. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Government and Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur took strict notice of this incident. A five-member Awami Aman Committee was formed from Bannu. The demands were presented by the National Peace Committee before the Provincial Apex Committee. Which were then unanimously accepted in the Apex Committee meeting.

On July 26, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur paid an official visit to Bannu. He announced to accept their demands in front of the huge public gathering at Pareti gate.

Few positive points came out of Bannu Awami Aman Dharna: The most important thing was, That millions of people came together in the name of peace. In which children, aged people and youth participated in large numbers. They persisted till the final decision of Quomi Jirga in demanding the restoration of peace. The second notable point was that the local leaders of the Bannu Qaumi Jirga along with the provincial and national assembly members elected from Bannu (Malik Pakhtun Yar Khan, Haji Zahidullah Khan and Maulana Naseem Ali Shah & some other political party leaders) and the provincial administrator Ali Amin Khan Gandapur played an important role in solving this problem. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police played an active role in winning the hearts of the people of Bannu.

After the end of peace sit-in, public questions began to arise on social media. The most common question among them is this. What was the decision about the bloodshed of the martyrs and the injured individuals in the said incident? The second question that arises is whether our police department will be able to suppress terrorist activities across the district? If such an event happens again in the future, who will be responsible for it?