Peshawar High Court Bar Association demanded the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to tender his resignation over the execution of 18 residents of Alam Gudar area of Bara sub-division on the night of January 15, 16.
According to reports, a general body meeting of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association with President Abdul Latif Afridi in the chair was convened here. Latif Afridi, Ijaz Mohmand, Samiullah Ghulam Nabi, and others censured the provincial government over the killings of innocent Bara residents and police torture on the relatives of the dead who had staged a sit-in demanding justice.
The orators at the meeting maintained that closing down highways over fears to reprisal and public outrage against the killings was “a slap on the so-called democratic government.”
The speakers demanded of the Governor Barrister Masud Kausar to accept his incompetence and resign.
‘Military operation should be halted, curfew lifted and the victimized families should be compensated,’ the Peshawar High Court general body members added.
According to Bara tribesmen, on the night of Jan 15-16, security forces barged in houses in Alam Gudar area and opened fire killing 18 men including eight of a single family.
The security forces, however, deny the allegations.
ANP Khyber Agency Vice President resigns: Awami National Party Senior Vice President Syed Rasin Afridi on Saturday resigned to show solidarity with Bara affectees. According to the source, he resigned after the way Bara affectees were treated by ANP government and police over a peaceful demonstration.
JI demands judicial commission to probe killings: The Jammat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter has demanded of the government to constitute a judicial commission to probe into the innocent people killed in tribal areas and Malakand in last few years during the war on terror.
After the formation of the commission, it should promptly present the report to the authorities concerned to unearth the alleged involved persons, said Ameer JI of KP Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan said in a statement issued on Saturday. He said the government should compensate the bereaved family members of the slain dead bodies of Bara.
Urging the government to punish the accused murderers of the Alam Gudar incident where 18 local tribesmen were killed during operation, the JI Ameeer said the police also brutally tortured the peaceful demonstrators.
He criticized the use of teargas, baton charge, water canons and aerial firing over the tribal protestors who staged sit in protest before the Governor House on Shersha Sori Road.
The slain dead bodies lying in front of governor house were mistreated by police and were insulted, Professor said and added not only the demonstrators were tortured but also beaten by police. Tribal people received losses during the ongoing insurgency in their respective areas and they were compelled to migrate to other areas of the country, Ibrahim added.
Mr Ibrahim in his message to tribal people said they should not consider themselves alone and JI would support them till the end in every matter. He recalled that the judicial commission should be formed to investigate the killings that took place in Malakand division and tribal belt. Several people in the ongoing operation were killed however the reason for the killings was not known, he added.
Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party led government in KP showed its anti pakhtun attitude in the Alam Gudar incident, Prof said and also criticizing the provincial government for sealing the provincial capital on the demonstration day of the killings of tribesmen.
He opined the demands of the tribesmen should be addressed and their problems to be resolved on priority basis.
PTI Fata wants formation of judicial commission: PPI adds: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fata on Saturday appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan to form a judicial commission regarding the killing of 18 persons in tehsil Bara.
They also demanded of Awami National Party (ANP) leadership to make apology for baton charge by police personnel on peaceful demonstrators of Bara residents.
In a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club, Dr Bashir, organizer of PTI Fata said that tribesmen were peaceful and always protect country boarders but due to military operation against militancy in the area had made life tribal miserable and passing through a difficult phase.
He said tribal people were being deprived of their basic rights as provided to other citizens of the country.
Meanwhile PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appealed to Chief justice of Supreme Court to take suo muto action against the killing of 18 tribesmen in Alam Goder area of Khyber agency.
In a press statement, PTI women wing representative Ayesha Gulalai expressed grief over the tragedy and asked the federal government to withdraw troops from the agency.Using of force against the militants had failed to work, she added.
Ms Ayesha pressed the government to initiate negotiations with tribal elders for the establishment of durable peace across the fata.
She also called for the grant of compensation to the hires of the slain persons. She vowed that the rulers would be taken responsible for their deeds if PTI was voted to power in next general elections.
