At least seven people died in a shooting targeting a protest outside a military installation, held in response to the killing of a girl in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on Sunday.

 

Following the incident, security officials met with tribal elders, announcing compensation for the victims, and assured that medical treatment would be provided to the injured. The provincial government has also announced separate compensation for the deceased and wounded.

 

According to media reports, hundreds of tribesmen had brought the body of a girl, who they claimed was killed in a mortar strike in the Darbar locality of Peer Mela in Zakhakhel a day earlier, to the Brigade Headquarters in Bagh-Maidan Markaz early on Sunday morning.

 

Citing eye-witnesses, reports stated that the situation turned violent when an enraged mob, comprising mostly young men, acted against calls by local elders to remain calm, and initially torched an excavator parked outside Brigade Headquarters, and then attempted to force open the garrison’s main gate.

 

Security personnel guarding the installation reportedly opened fire to control the crowd.

 

Videos circulating on social media of the incident show an excavator on fire. Some protesters can also be seen pelting stones at the Brigade Headquarters while attempting to forcibly open the main gate. In the footage, protesters could be seen running for cover as gunshots rang out.

 

Citing security officials, reports claimed that the local sector commander met with elders in Tirah and assured them of his full support in meeting their legitimate demands.

 

Apart from financial assistance to the deceased families, the elders also demand to file a case against those involved in the death of the girl; vacation of the occupied houses of local citizens, end to unnecessary harassment at the security check posts.

 

On the elders' demand, security forces announced compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.

 

A statement issued from the KP chief minister’s secretariat said the provincial government was grieved over the loss of lives in Tirah and the deceased will be given Rs10 million and Rs2.5 million to the injured.

 

The statement read that the KP government was committed to sustainable peace, mutual respect and public safety, adding it had called a jirga comprising tribal elders and public representatives to address their issues.

 

“The district administration and institutions have been directed to strengthen communication with the public and maintain law and order situation,” the statement quoted the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as saying.