Tribal elders of the Momand Khel tribe in Bannu district have urged the government to take immediate and practical steps to end insecurity in tribal districts and ensure protection for local residents.
The elders raised their concerns during a jirga held on 27 October, where participants discussed the growing unrest and civilian hardships in the region.
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The jirga participants stressed that security forces must consider the difficulties faced by civilians during operations against militants. They said drone strikes continue to cause civilian casualties despite repeated assurances from government and security officials that such incidents would not recur.
Elder Amir Feroz Khan told Mashaal Radio that curfews are regularly imposed in North Waziristan every Saturday and Sunday, which also affects residents of Bannu and Miramshah. He said ordinary people are often targeted in drone strikes and questioned the justification for these attacks.
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Another jirga participant, Asghar Khan, said frequent curfews have severely disrupted daily life and called for the restrictions to be relaxed.
Similar jirgas and protests have been held in Baka Khel, Jani Khel, Lakki Marwat, and Waziristan, where local residents have repeatedly demanded stronger government action against militancy. The participants accused authorities of not taking serious and consistent steps to restore peace and stability.
Administrative and security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they remain committed to maintaining law and order in the area and have continued targeted operations against militants. They stated that curfews are imposed only to protect civilians during the movement of military convoys and to prevent casualties in case of unexpected incidents.
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The jirga’s demands come as insecurity in tribal districts continues to rise, particularly in the merged areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant attacks and violent incidents have increased in recent months. Tribal leaders have urged the government to adopt a more effective and people-centred strategy to restore lasting peace and ensure the protection of citizens.
