Press release

Militancy and violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be stemmed

Lahore, 28 September 2024. Observing that law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has continued to deteriorate, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the provincial government to take urgent measures to tackle militancy and protect people’s right to life and security. According to reports, the last week alone has seen an attack on a diplomatic convoy in Swat, leading to the death of a police officer, abductions of polio workers in Dera Ismail Khan, and attacks on police personnel in Nasir Bagh and Bajaur.

In particular, HRCP is concerned by the fresh outbreak of violence in Kurram district and has announced that it will lead a high-profile fact-finding mission to the area in the coming weeks to determine why tribal rivalries and sectarian conflict continue to plague the region, based on what local communities as well as official sources have to say. HRCP notes that, apart from the loss of life, these recurring waves of violence have displaced families and cut off access to mobile services, schools, hospitals, and marketplaces.

HRCP has time and again warned both the federal provincial governments that increasing militarization is not the solution to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security problems. Law and order must be enforced by well-trained, well-equipped civilian forces and perpetrators of violence held accountable under the law. In parallel, the pledges made to the former tribal areas in terms of funds and development must be met under the 25th constitutional amendment.

Asad Iqbal Butt
Chairperson