Islamabad: Thousands of residents of the northern Swat region held a rally to protest against violent incidents after an attack on a school bus that killed the driver and injured two students.
Local journalists described the protests as one of the “largest demonstrations” held in the scenic mountainous Swat Valley where protesters demanded justice and asked the government to ensure the safety of residents and to take strong measures against all forms of terrorism in the region.
Family members of the bus driver, 33-year-old Hussain Ahmed, who was killed in the recent attack on a school bus in Swat’s Charbagh area, ended their 40-hour sit-in after successful negotiations with the local administration. The protestors demanded the arrest of the culprits behind the attack.
Police officials initially ruled out terrorism and called it a targeted attack on an individual but they say they continue to investigate. Swat Deputy Commissioner Junaid Khan and other officials held talks with the demonstrators and vowed to arrest the attackers soon and to look after the deceased’s children. Following assurances from the police, the protestors called off the demonstration and offered funeral prayers for the deceased.
The school bus incident is the latest of a growing number of violent incidents in the surroundings. The attack came a day after the 10th anniversary of the shooting of Malala Yousafzai by the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP).
Locals residents have blamed the banned militant organization TTP for the recent bus attack but the group has denied responsibility. The sit-in was joined by thousands of people who reiterated the call for arresting the perpetrators and ensuring peace in the region “to contain the growing militant activities” in the district.
Slogans of “no more terrorism and we demand peace from the state” echoed in Mingora city too where hundreds of people took to the streets, according to local media and videos shared on social media.
Reaction
Pakistan’s federal cabinet expressed serious concerns over the attack. The cabinet member strongly condemned the incident which triggered a massive protest but stopped short of announcing measures to contain the wave of violence.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan termed the situation in Swat “alarming” and urged the federal government to remain attentive.
Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Hidayatullah criticised the PTI’s provincial government in KP over its silence and passive stance. He also asked the federal government to intervene and ensure security in the region.
Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said that every citizen of Pakistan had the constitutional right to a “safety of life protected by the state” which had “failed to ensure peace.” Mohsin Dawar, a member of the National Assembly, condemned the latest attack and said that the attacks are a serious wake-up call for the state.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in its statement that “It was callous and short-sighted to have downplayed the threat from militants given residents’ growing protests and calls for security.”
