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 kilometers and gathered at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landikotal bazaar.
On the call of 45-members all Shinwari and Afridi’s tribes committee all local bazaars including Landikotal main bazaar observed shuterdown strike and suspended traffick on Pak-Afghan highway.
A large number of private schools children in different uniforms were also seen marched in the peace rally in Landikotal.
The protesters were holding black flags, banners and placards inscribed with slogans “Stop Journists 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, Jameat 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 the occasion.
The speakers demanded of the government to maintain peace and provide foolproof security to citizens especially to journists in Landikotal.
The speakers said tribals were patriotic and peaceful but their land was used as war playground for decads. 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 still journalists,private schools owners and other citizens were being threanted to kill which was alarming situation for all citizens.
Provicial 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 blood was shed 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 exist”, 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 responsibles that 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 voice against military operation at every forum.
The peace march and protest was 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 provicial political parties leaders and other figures have visited and showed their solidarity with journalists and other citizens for peace.
