In Laki Marwat, police officers’ sit-in protesting continuous attacks on the force has entered its second day, with participation expanding as officers from neighbouring districts join the demonstration.
The sit-in, which began yesterday, has seen a substantial turnout of police personnel in response to recent assaults on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ongoing protest has led to the closure of the Indus Highway at the Tajazai area, significantly disrupting traffic.
Protesters, including Station House Officers (SHOs) from various stations, have set up a camp on the highway. They spent the night in tents, maintaining their presence by holding the Fajr prayer on the road. As a result of the protest, all police stations and checkpoints in the district were unmanned overnight.
Participants have stated they expect additional support today from police officers across other districts. Their demands are multifaceted: They seek the closure of unsafe and remote police stations, the removal of intelligence agency personnel from the police line control room, the reinstatement of the police union, and the withdrawal of security forces from the district.
Regional Police Officer Imran Shahid, the District Police Officer, and the Deputy Commissioner of Laki Marwat made last night efforts to negotiate with the protesters. However, these talks did not yield a resolution.
The motivation for this protest traces back to the recent deaths of five police officers in Laki Marwat over the last week. The protesters have issued a two-day ultimatum for their demands to be addressed, heightening tensions and anticipation of further discussions with high-ranking officials, including the IG of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and officers from the security forces.
