PESHAWAR: While the provincial government blamed ‘miscreants’ for the violence that claimed at least one life during a peace rally in Bannu last week, the federal government held the PTI — which governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — responsible for the unrest.
A 40-member jirga — formed to smooth things over after violence marred the peace rally in Bannu — will meet KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to relay the public’s concerns.
However, in a press conference over the weekend, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that some PTI members opened fire during the rally, which caused a stampede that resulted in several injuries.
In a press note issued, the KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department said that the 40-member jirga had held negotiations with the local administration — including the commissioner, deputy commissioner, regional police officer and divisional police officer — and put forth a 16-point agenda.
“These points are now under active consideration and those which can be resolved and agreed to at the commissioner / administration level will be done so as soon as possible,” the statement said.
The statement recalled the two incidents that rocked Bannu last week, i.e. a terrorist attack on the cantonment that claimed the lives of eight security personnel and three civilians, as well as the melee at the peace rally that led to at least one death and over two dozen injuries.
Expressing “deep shock and anguish” at the two incidents, the statement from the KP government noted that on July 19, “the gathering of traders’ community along with political leaders and workers of different political parties and other organisations ended peacefully at Pretty Gate, Bannu City. Later on, the participants proceeded towards Sports Complex.”
However, it noted that “some miscreants in garb of these protesters pelted stones on the Security Forces Supply Depot, set ablaze the tents erected in place of the demolished wall of the depot and resorted to small arms fire. The police deployed there took stock of the situation and endeavoured its best to take them out of the sensitive area.”
The press note said that on July 20, KP CM Gandapur had assigned lawmakers to engage with the protest leaders and called for a formal inquiry into the incident.
