Protests erupted once again in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on Sunday, following two separate incidents involving criminal activity and violence, according to Dawn.
The first incident involved a gang of criminals, led by Shafiq Sardar, abducting three villagers. The gang attacked villagers from Daulatkhel, who were returning from gathering reed plants. Armed villagers fought back, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The criminals kidnapped three people—Hayatullah, Muhabbat Khan, and Shahzar Khan—near Zerjanu and took them to an undisclosed location. In response, a large group of armed villagers gathered and blocked Begukhel Road, demanding the safe release of the hostages and the arrest of the criminals. The protest ended after police assured the crowd that action would be taken.
In a second incident, protests broke out in the Kaichi Kamar area after the body of a young man, Barkatullah, was discovered in a forest near the Kurrum River. Barkatullah, a labourer who collected reed plants, had been missing since the previous day. Protesters claimed that he was killed by a mortar shell fired by security forces. His family, who depended on his earnings, was devastated by his death. The protesters blocked the Kurram Bridge on the Peshawar-Karachi Highway, disrupting traffic. The protests ended after police intervened and assured the protesters that an investigation would be carried out, and the highway was reopened.
Additionally, another fatality occurred when unknown gunmen shot and killed Qadir, a 34-year-old motorcyclist, near Nar Haideran in Sera Naurang town. After killing him, the gunmen took Qadir’s motorcycle. His brother, Abid, reported the incident to the police, who have launched an investigation. In a separate attack, the driver of a security team for a local cement factory was injured in Darra Pezu town when armed assailants opened fire on the security team’s patrol vehicle. The driver, Baidullah, was hospitalized, and a case has been registered by the police.
These incidents highlight the escalating violence in Lakki Marwat, causing distress among the local community. Lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become a major concern, with increasing violence, extremism, and criminal activities. Despite the government’s assurances of improving security, many parts of the province continue to be plagued by threats from militant groups and criminal syndicates. The inadequate policing, combined with socio-economic instability, has allowed lawlessness to flourish, creating widespread fear among the residents.
