Bannu, a city located near Kurram River in KP, saw the deaths of at least six people, while scores were injured as local peace protest spiraled into chaos and violence following the Cantonment attack.
Bannu Aman March, was organized for peace but it became stage for deadly confrontation between protesters and armed forces.
The protest was started when local residents and politicians took to the streets in response to the Bannu Cantt attack – in which eight soldiers were martyred. Participants, carrying white flags, marched through the roads, aiming to promote peace and unity, and when the rally passed through the sports complex, tensions quickly escalated as some troublemakers joined the march under the guise of supporting the cause.
A stampede was followed as these people hurled stones at forces, causing widespread panic among people. The situation deteriorated further with outbreak of aerial firing, leading to multiple deaths and injuries. The scene turned chaotic as conflicting reports emerged about the nature of the attack.
Those who witnessed the incident claimed that Aman March was disrupted when armed members of PTM launched an assault. The clash started after Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers attempted to intervene but were met with gunfire from the attacking group. The violence intensified as protesters breached a wall that had been damaged in a previous attack by militants.
Amidst the chaos, PTM members began rallying at the sports complex, further inflaming the situation. The ongoing violence raised concerns about security and the safety of locals.
The stark incident cast a shadow over the peace efforts in Bannu, revealing deep-seated tensions and the complex interplay of local and militant groups.
As the incident sent shockwaves across the region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced on Saturday to form a commission to conduct a free and fair investigation into violence at a peace rally in Bannu the previous day.
The provincial government said that the situation in Bannu and neighboring cities are under control, and security was heightened in sensitive regions.
