BANNU: Members of the Police Peace Committee staged protests in Bannu and Lakki Marwat on Friday over the alleged disappearance of one of their colleagues from Peshawar.
The protest disrupted routine policing across Bannu, with committee members stepping away from their duties. Traffic police personnel also joined the demonstration, affecting traffic management and normal movement in parts of the city.
A large number of protesters gathered at the Bannu Police Lines, where they continued their demonstration and demanded information about their missing colleague.
The protesters also forced banks in Bannu city to shut their operations. They further announced that government offices would remain closed, raising concerns about disruption to public services and administrative work in the district.
Police Peace Committee President Hazratullah said the group was formed with the objective of supporting peace and stability in the region. He maintained that the protesters were not targeting any particular police officer or state institution.
According to Hazratullah, the immediate reason for the protest was the alleged abduction of a member of the Lakki Marwat Police Peace Committee from Peshawar.
He claimed that committee members had faced instances in which colleagues were transferred or allegedly taken into custody. He said the committee would continue to raise its concerns through peaceful demonstrations.
“We are not against any officer. We are part of the police force and want peace,” Hazratullah said, adding that the committee’s opposition was directed towards militants and activities threatening peace in the region.
He said police, the Pakistan Army and other state institutions shared the objective of restoring peace and stability.
Committee leaders also criticised political groups that had opposed the role of the Police Peace Committee, arguing that efforts aimed at improving security should not face resistance.
Friday’s protest was the second such demonstration by committee members in Bannu and surrounding areas within a week.
On August 25, Police Peace Committee members had also boycotted their duties over the transfer of seven Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police officials to other districts. They demanded that the transfer orders be withdrawn.
That protest affected policing and traffic operations in parts of Bannu and Lakki Marwat. Demonstrators had warned that their campaign could be expanded if their demands were not addressed.
