Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Parliamentarians, tribesmen, journalists, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement(PTM) and thousands of civil society members held a protest march in Landkotal and chanted slogans for peace and justice for Khalil Jibran Afridi on Tuesday.
The protest rally marched from Takia Sultankhel village in Khyber for five kilometres and gathered at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landikotal bazaar.
On the call of 45 members of the Shinwari and Afridi tribes committee, all local bazaars including Landikotal main bazaar observed a shutdown strike and suspended traffic on the Pak-Afghan highway.
Many private school children in different uniforms were also seen marching in the peace rally in Landikotal.
The protesters were holding black flags, banners and placards inscribed with the slogans “Stop Journalists Target Killings”, we want peace in Khyber and justice for Khalil Jibran Afridi.
Speakers including provincial minister for religious affairs Allama Muhammad Adnan Qadri, MPA Sohail Afridi, Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam senior leader Mufti Muhammad Ejaz, Awami National Party president Shah Hussain and senior ANP leader Darya Khan Afridi, Landikotal mayor Shah Khalild Shinwari, Jamat-e-Islami amir Murdad Hussain Afridi and senior JI leader Ziaulhaq Afridi, Shakir Khan Afridi and others spoke on occasion.
The speakers demanded that the government maintain peace and provide foolproof security to citizens, especially to journalists in Landikotal.
The speakers said tribals were patriotic and peaceful but their land was used as a war playground for decades. They said Pakistan was not safe for journalists as four journalists were gunned down in Pakistan in the past few months.
They said unknown gunmen also killed several other citizens in district Khyber but the killers could not brought to justice. The speakers said that journalists, private school owners and other citizens were being threatened with killing which was an alarming situation for all citizens.
Provincial minister Muhammad Adnan Qadri said tribals could not afford to bear more militancy and military operations on their soil. He said not only just Khalil Jibran Afridi’s bloodshed but the whole of Khyber was shaken.
“We can not bear to have more orphans in our homes. Everyone has lost their loved ones in militancy and the pain of their loss still exists”, said Qadri.
He said the people of ex-Fata witnessed hard life after 9/11 militancy and military operations and rendered sacrifices. He suggested if again military operation was decided in Pakistan it should be started first from Sindh and Punjab provinces where Kachy dacoits and militants prevail.
Adnan Qadri asked the responsible what was the Khalil Jibran’s sin who was brutally killed. He said 12 million tribals in erstwhile Fata have rejected the possible military operation and would raise their voices against military operation at every forum.
The peace march and protest continued in Landikotal as residents demanded an end to target killings and the restoration of peace when a resident identified as Muhammad Zahid, son of Muhammad Ikram, was shot dead in Bara tehsil, district Khyber.
Meanwhile, the sit-in camp was continued on the 6th day at Takia ground in Sultankhel village where a large number of local and provincial political party leaders and other figures visited and showed their solidarity with journalists and other citizens for peace.
