Grief turned into anger in Bannu after two police officials, abducted by armed men, were martyred and laid to rest in their ancestral village, while residents staged a protest accusing the provincial government of detachment and inaction.
According to local sources, armed assailants stormed a mosque in the Hassan Khel Sokari area on Tuesday night and abducted three brothers. Two of them, both serving police personnel, were later killed. The third brother was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location and remains missing.
The martyred policemen were laid to rest after funeral prayers were offered in their native village. A large number of residents, elders from Aqwam Sokari, and people from across Bannu attended the funeral, where grief hung heavy and questions grew louder.
Following the burial, elders and community members carried the bodies to Tappi Qala Chowk, placing them on the road and launching a sit in protest. Demonstrators demanded the immediate and safe recovery of the third abducted brother.
“Our two men have been martyred. The third must be recovered without delay,” protest leaders declared, warning that the demonstration would continue until he is safely returned.
Protesters also announced they would observe iftar and sehri at the protest camp, signaling an indefinite sit in. The gathering criticized the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing it of disengagement, negligence, and failing to ensure the safety of citizens and police personnel in volatile districts like Bannu.
Bannu district, located in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has witnessed a resurgence of targeted violence in recent months, raising concerns about security gaps and the vulnerability of law enforcement personnel even within their own communities.
The atmosphere in the area remains tense as the protest continues, with residents demanding accountability, protection, and the safe return of the abducted brother.
