By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: The death toll from Sunday’s firing incident in Tirah Valley has risen to five, while at least 16 others sustained bullet injuries after security forces allegedly opened fire on a peaceful protest in the Maidan area of Khyber district.
Local sources said members of the Zakhakhel tribe, along with relatives of a young girl killed a day earlier in mortar shelling, had gathered outside the Bagh Army Brigade headquarters in Bagh Markaz to protest the civilian deaths.
Eyewitnesses claim the protest was peaceful when security personnel allegedly opened fire on the crowd. The deceased have been identified as Shakoor Khan, Ziaur Rehman, Hanat Shah, Akmal Khan, and Saeed Afridi.
The 16 injured, several of whom are in critical condition, were shifted to hospitals in Peshawar for treatment.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the region. Tribal elders and residents condemned the use of force against unarmed civilians and called for a high-level inquiry and immediate action from both civil and military leadership.
