The tragic shooting in Bannu has triggered widespread outrage and intensified demands for accountability from politicians and journalists. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, a former senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has vehemently condemned the state’s actions against Pashtun protesters.
In a post on X, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said, “Government terrorism is not acceptable, military operations are not acceptable, in any case, we want peace”.
سرکاری دہشتگردی نامنظور، فوجی آپریشن نامنظور، ہر صورت میں ہمیں امن چاہیے۔ بنوں امن پاسون سے خطاب۔#Bannu#StopStateTerrorism#بنوں@GovtofPakistan @CMShehbaz @OfficialDGISPR@HamidMirPAK @ImranRiazKhan @TalatHussain12 @AajKamranKhan @Kashifabbasiary @AnsarAAbbasi… pic.twitter.com/6XG2wkwmjl
— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) July 19, 2024
Mushtaq also posted a video from the protest he attended. Former MNA from North Waziristan, Mohsin Dawar, remarked on the dire outcomes of the violent clash, stating, “Blood in response to peace.”
Blood in response to Peace. #Bannu pic.twitter.com/Tvj3gVq1ld
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) July 19, 2024
PTI leader Sher Afzal Khan Marwat echoed similar sentiments and said, “Watching this video, I feel deep sorrow and condemn the recent shootings against peaceful protestors in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is disheartening to witness such brutality inflicted upon innocent Pakistanis, exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest.”
Watching this video, I feel deep, sorrow, and condemn the recent shootings against peaceful protestors in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It is disheartening to witness such brutality inflicted upon innocent Pakistanis, exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest.
I extend… pic.twitter.com/QIF5geAhNS— Sher Afzal Khan Marwat (@sherafzalmarwat) July 19, 2024
Journalists also expressed their outrage over the incident. Journalist Sabahat Zakariya conveyed her frustration, stating, “akistani forces firing directly into a peaceful protest. Jallianwala Bagh to Babbra to Okara to Bannu. So much for ‘freedom’.”
Pakistani forces firing directly into a peaceful protest. Jallianwala Bagh to Babbra to Okara to Bannu. So much for ‘freedom’. pic.twitter.com/m89F0pkHgt
— Sabahat Zakariya (@sabizak) July 19, 2024
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), at least five protesters were killed and over 20 injured when security forces opened fire on participants of a peace rally in Bannu on Friday. Thousands had assembled in the southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa town to protest against terrorism. The demonstration, organized by local traders and political parties, turned violent when protesters attempted to enter the cantonment area, leading to gunfire.
The Bannu police reported that army personnel fired on protesters who were trying to breach the Bannu cantonment, causing chaos and numerous injuries. The rally was held in response to a suicide bombing earlier in the week that targeted an army outpost and resulted in the deaths of eight Pakistani soldiers.
