- Web Desk
- 8 Hours ago

Thousands march in Tirah Valley after violence claimed five lives
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- Tahir Khan
- 8 Hours ago

ISLAMABAD: Thousands, demanding restoration of peace, marched in the mountainous Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal district on Monday, a day after several people died and injured in a firing incident.
The incident happened on Sunday when tribesmen were staging a protest against the killing of a girl in a mortar shell in front of the local military brigade.
The protesters, including students of schools and madrassas, also demanded that the military ensure the safety of civilians during operations against militants.
At least five people were killed and over 15 injured in the firing, according to locals.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA from Khyber district Iqbal Afridi and PTI KP President Juaid Akbar in separate statements alleged that security forces had fired at the protestors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement blamed the militants for the firing.
There was no statement from the military authorities.
Organizers of the march said the participants would meet leadership of the militants at Bhutan Sharif area of Tirah Valley and would request them to leave the area as their presence has posed a serious threat to the safety of the locals.
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Security officials believe that militants now hide in the civilian population and are people as a human shield.
Presence of the militants among the locals have multiplied challenges for the security forces.
A delegation of a political alliance also moved to Tirah on Monday to meet with the affected families and seek their views for the future strategy.
A tribal elder Hashim Khan Afridi told reporters in Khyber district that the alliance will announce its plan after holding talks with the families.
Hours after the firing incident, a tribal jirga met military officers late on Sunday and demanded “legal action” against those involved in the incident. Elders said military officials expressed regret over the killing of a child in the mortar attack two days ago.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has summoned a jirga comprising tribal elders and public representatives to Peshawar to listen to local sentiments and concerns.
A provincial government’s statement said that instructions have been issued to the district administration and institutions to strengthen public coordination and maintain law and order.
Ali Amin Gandapur announced an aid package of 10 million rupees for the martyrs and 2.5 million rupees per person for the injured.
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has stated that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur is personally overseeing the situation following the Tirah incident.
The Chief Minister is in constant contact with the concerned administrative authorities and has also summoned a tribal jirga to Peshawar, where tribal elders will be heard and consulted, the advisor said in a statement.
Dr. Saif highlighted that the provincial government had convened an All Parties Conference last week to prevent such incidents in the future. However, he regretted that opposition parties, including Faisal Karim Kundi, displayed a lack of seriousness by boycotting the conference.
He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced that the provincial government will provide financial assistance of Rs. 10 million for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs. 2.5 million for the injured.
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands in full solidarity with the affected families during this difficult time and remains committed to supporting them in every possible way.
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Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi said on Monday that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the incident and there would be no injustice with anyone.
He said in a statement that the local administration and jirga members are in contact, and the agreement and trust of all stakeholders is necessary in this regard.
“The elements hostile to Pakistan and Fitna-ul-Hindustan are actively creating misunderstandings between the army and the people to achieve their nefarious goals,” the governor said.
He also expressed serious concern over the Tirah incident and said that the Pakistani army and the people are one and the same.
This Sunday incident occurred at a time when the security situation in Tirah has been deteriorating for some time, with clashes between security forces and militants taking place from time to time, resulting sometimes in civilian casualties.
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Local people have previously held demonstrations against insecurity, civilian casualties, and financial losses in clashes and operations.
