In response to the killing of political activist Rehan Zeb Khan, a jirga held in Khar, the district headquarters of Bajaur, on Saturday has vowed to take action against those involved in such acts of violence. The jirga, attended by local elders and political activists, expressed concerns over the escalating violence in the region and criticized the poor performance of the police in addressing these incidents.
Rehan Zeb Khan, an election candidate affiliated with PTI, was killed by unknown assailants three days before the jirga. The participants of the jirga highlighted the need to improve the law and order situation in Bajaur, emphasizing that the police have failed to trace those responsible for the recent spate of killings. They expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in the investigation into Rehan Zeb’s murder.
Prominent political figures, including PML-N provincial vice-president Shahabuddin Khan, PTI’s former lawmaker Gul Dad Khan, PPP leader Aurangzeb Khan, ANP’s Sheikh Jan Zada, PML-N local president Malik Gul Kareem Khan, former governor Shaukatullah Khan, former provincial minister Anwarzeb Khan, and JI’s Maulana Waheed Gul, were among those who spoke at the jirga.
The participants criticized the performance of the police and expressed dissatisfaction with the law and order situation in Bajaur after the merger of the former Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2019.
They expressed a lack of confidence in the police’s ability to protect the residents and decided to take collective action against those involved in such incidents instead of relying solely on the police.
The jirga’s stance reflects the frustration and concerns of the community regarding the deteriorating security situation in Bajaur, and it underscores the need for more effective measures to address the rising violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
