PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s six-party opposition alliance on Saturday demanded a judicial commission to probe the shooting incident that led to the killing of people at a rally in Bannu city after the provincial administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) announced the formation of an inquiry commission for “transparent investigation” into the incident.
At least two persons were killed and more than 20 injured after gunfire triggered a stampede at the procession attended by tens of thousands of people in the northwestern city on Friday. The demonstration was held at a time when KP, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed a surge in attacks on security forces, government officials and anti-polio vaccination teams in recent weeks.
The shocking increase in daily attacks led the residents of the area to demand peace only a few days after 10 soldiers were killed by militants in Bannu’s cantonment area.
The opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (or the Movement to Protect the Constitution of Pakistan), held a meeting to discuss the political situation in the country, during which participants also focused on the recent shooting incident.
“They demanded that an independent judicial commission should be constituted immediately to probe into the deaths and injuries caused by the firings on Bannu Aman [Peace] March,” said a statement released after the meeting attended by senior members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its allies.
“The participants stressed the need that a judicial commission should be headed by a serving judge, which should be free from any external pressure, to ensure a transparent investigation into the violent incidents in Bannu,” it continued.
The statement added the meeting criticized senior police and provincial administration officials, saying they had “miserably failed in restoring peace in the province” and must be dismissed.
Earlier, KP government’s spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was personally monitoring the situation in the city. Both officials belong to Khan’s PTI party, which formed the provincial administration after the February 8 general elections.
“The chief minister has announced the formation of a commission for a transparent investigation into the incident,” Saif said in a lengthy statement posted on his social media account. “The commission will conduct an impartial investigation and present a report, which will be made public. The role of those responsible will be determined and legal action will be taken.”
Residents take part in a peace rally to protest after the recent suicide attack by militants on an army enclave in Bannu, on July 19, 2024. (AFP)
Local residents and some Pakistani politicians accused the security forces of the shooting incident, though the KP spokesperson was reticent about who was responsible.
“The unpleasant incident occurred at a sensitive location in Bannu cantonment, the same place where a suicide bombing took place recently,” he added. “Sensitive areas generally have high security alerts, and soldiers and civilians were martyred in the suicide attack. The sensitive nature of this location was also a factor in yesterday’s unfortunate incident.”
The KP spokesperson urged the public to exercise “extreme caution” given the current wave of militant attacks.
Prior to his statement, a global rights organization, Amnesty International, took notice of the firing incident in Bannu, calling it a violation of the right to peaceful assembly.
“The use of lethal force at a peaceful rally advocating for peace is unlawful and is at odds with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials,” it noted in a statement.
“The Government of Pakistan has repeatedly failed to promote and facilitate peaceful assembly, and to ensure the safety of protesters,” it continued. “[Amnesty] urges the government to promptly investigate and hold to account officials responsible for the attack.”
Residents take part in a peace rally to protest after the recent suicide attack by militants on an army enclave in Bannu, on July 19, 2024. (AFP)
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also said it was “appalled” by the development.
“This seemingly state-sanctioned violation of citizens’ right to life and right to freedom of peaceful assembly is reprehensible and reflects a dangerous contempt for citizen-led calls for peace,” it added.
The participants of the public gathering in Bannu have announced to continue their rally.
