PEACE and security of life, family, and property are some of the inalienable and undeniable fundamental rights of every citizen guaranteed in the Constitution of a State. The Constitution of Pakistan also guarantees these rights to its citizens. The recent terrorist attacks on July 15, 2024, on Bannu Cantonment again created a mourning environment in Bannu, wherein several civilians and eight security personnel embraced martyrdom, and ten terrorists, hailing from Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s group, were killed. This was the second such incident, as earlier, in December 2022, 33 terrorists in custody at the Counter Terrorism Department compound took security personnel hostage and demanded safe passage to Afghanistan. However, the Army’s Special Service Group carried out a successful operation, and after a heavy exchange of fire, killed 25 terrorists, arrested three, and seven surrendered, while 10 security officers sustained injuries and three embraced martyrdom.
It is very ironic that local, provincial and federal political leadership remained silent spectators and did not bother to utter a single word of condemnation and showing solidarity with people of Bannu and the security forces. The resentment of local populace is natural while criticising the political leadership for its absence from the spot. However, it is astonishing that local political leadership now came out of their holes and started to issue political statements and showing solidarity with local people on the eve of “Aman Pasoon” to be held on Friday July 19, 2024. The Chief Minister of KP, Chief of KP Police and KP Chief Secretary did not bother to rush to Bannu and try to heal the wounds of local people. No doubt, PTI MNA from Bannu Maulana Naseem Ali Shah in recent past raised his voice and pointed out the looming security threats in his constituency on the floor of the National Assembly.
In such a prevailing anarchical milieu, the common man has fallen prey to false news circulated on social media. Even educated people get confused when distinguishing between truth and fabrication. It is an undeniable fact that the recent attack highlights blatant security lapses on the part of law-enforcing agencies. It raises the question of how such an ammunition-laden vehicle passed through various checkpoints and reached Bannu Cantonment. The answer is crystal clear from the statements of various political leaders: with sunset, the local police disappear from the scene and restrict themselves to police stations, leaving the general masses at the mercy of circumstances. This creates severe security vacuum which is easily filled up by militants, criminals and terrorists. And the army has no mandate to perform policing functions as the KP Government did not requisite its services to aid Police in overcoming the ongoing insecurity in the area.
The people of Bannu owe immense gratitude to the Commander, Officers, and Jawans of Bannu Brigade (Brigade 116), who decisively neutralized an imminent security threat. Their swift action saved the lives of thousands of residents, both civilians and armed forces, in Cantonment. Furthermore, they prevented access to the Ammunition Depot in Bannu Cantonment, averting potentially catastrophic loss of life and property.
It is now unearthed that these terrorists belonged to Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s Group operating from Afghanistan and now joined hands with TTP. One of these terrorists was identified as Kamran alias Usmanullah son of Badsha Khan of Janikhel, Paktia, Afghanistan. The Afghan Government is equally responsible for this attack for being the host of such terrorist organisations which are blatantly involved to target the people and security forces in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan served strong demarche over the deadly terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment on July 17, 2024 to the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad.
The KP Provincial Government needs to convene the meeting of the Division APEX Committee in Bannu on prevailing law and order situation and also to invite the local MPAs, MNAs, Mayors, representatives of various Associations (like Trade Unions, Transport Union, etc) to share the facts and figures with them so as to avoid unnecessary baseless allegations against Pakistan army and its leadership.
Corp Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Umar Ahmad Bukhari needs to visit to Bannu and meet with the bereaved families of civilian martyrs as token of consolation. Moreover, PM Shehbaz Sharif along with the Chief of the Army Staff needs to visit Bannu and console the local people and to take them into confidence and also to remove the trust deficit between Pakistan army and local population. Besides, the local political leadership needs to stop political point scoring at the cost of tarnishing the image of Pakistan’s security agencies. The political leadership needs to reveal the truth to their people instead of exploiting their sentiments for political purpose. The government and people must counter collectively the unabated anti-Pakistan and anti-army propaganda sponsored by some seditious elements by foreign forces.
—The author is Chairman & Security Expert, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar.
