A protest over the killing of a girl in Tirah Valley turned violent on Sunday, leading to the deaths of six protesters and injuries to 17 others, with calm restored after a tribal Jirga negotiated peace with security officials.
According to local media, hundreds protesters gathered outside the Brigade Headquarters in Bagh-Maidan Markaz early on Sunday morning with the body of a girl they claimed was killed in a mortat strike in Zakakhel a day earlier. There has been no official statement on the alleged mortar strike.
Mostly comprising young men, the protest quickly turned violent, with demonstrators torching an excavator parked outside the Brigade Headquarters. They then tried to force open the garrison’s main gate, prompting security personnel to open fire. Videos shared on social media showed protesters pelting stones on the Brigade Headquarters and trying to force open its gate before fleeing in panic after soldiers fired their guns.
Following the incident, locals transported the injured to the Frontier Corps Hospital in Shah Kas Jamrud, Dogra hospital in Bara and Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar.
Amidst rising tensions, a delegation of Tirah elders met security officials at Brigade Headquarters, with the local sector commander assuring full cooperation in meeting their legitimate demands. Subsequently, security forces announced compensation for the families of the deceased and injured. The provincial government, likewise, announced Rs. 10 million for the family of each deceased and Rs. 2.5 million for the injured.
In a statement, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed sorrow and offered his sympathies for the families of those killed and injured in the incident. Stressing that the provincial government supported the victims and their families, he announced the convening of a jirga of tribal elders and public representatives in Peshawar to address the concerns of the local population.
He said the KP government was committed to promoting sustainable peace, public safety, and mutual respect across all communities.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident of firing on protesters. Expressing grief over the loss of lives, he directed relevant authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured and reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to eradicate terrorism in all its forms.