PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Police officers staged a sit-in protest against recent terrorist attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat on Monday, blocking the Indus Highway as part of their demonstration.
Lakki Marwat and the neighboring Bannu district have become hotspots for terrorist activity in northwest Pakistan. In 2022, the Counter-Terrorism Department center in Bannu was seized for four days by militants who took law enforcers hostage, a reminder of the escalating security challenges in the region.
The past month has seen a surge in attacks, with five police officers killed in shooting incidents by unidentified assailants just in the last week.
In response to the increasing violence, police personnel took to the streets to voice their grievances. At a consultation held in the police lines, officers outlined their demands, including full operational authority for police, increased protection for officers, the reinstatement of the police union, and the closure of the unsafe and remote Bragi Police Station. After the meeting, they blocked the Bannu-Mianwali Road as part of their protest.
In Lakki Marwat, police officers expanded their demonstration by blocking the Indus Highway and staging a sit-in. They have also boycotted their duties and formed a six-member committee to lead negotiations. The officers issued a two-day ultimatum, warning that if their demands are not met, they will escalate the protest.
The officers are calling for urgent attention to their security concerns, emphasizing the need for better support and protection for law enforcement in the region.
To address the situation, Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Imran Shahid, along with Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Taimoor Khan and Bannu DPO, arrived for negotiations.
However, after lengthy discussions, the protesters remained firm in their demands, continuing the sit-in. In a show of determination, many of the officers performed their evening prayers on the road. Bannu police have announced plans to join the protest rally scheduled for Tuesday in Lakki Marwat.
The Lakki Marwat District Bar Association President Asif Iqbal also announced a boycott of court proceedings in solidarity with the police. Local civil society organizations have expressed their support and plan to join the protest on Tuesday.
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