Protests Erupt in North Waziristan Against Targeted Killings and Human Rights Abuses

Thousands of residents in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protested against human rights abuses by the armed forces. Local leaders and general public highlighted ongoing atrocities and urged state responsibility for peace. International organizations, including Amnesty International, have previously raised similar concerns.

Thousands of residents took to the streets of North Waziristan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, expressing outrage against targeted killings and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Pakistani armed forces, The Express Tribune reported.

Leaders from the Utmanzai Jirga, Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), and local citizens participated in the protest and subsequent meeting. Protesters executed a complete shutter-down strike, showing solidarity with the victims and urging state institutions to uphold their responsibilities for peace.

Notably, the issue has been raised internationally. A previous protest outside the Pakistan Embassy in Vienna by the Afghan Cultural Association (AKS) and PTM's Austria wing spotlighted the alleged role of the ISI and Pakistan Army in fostering terrorism while scapegoating the Pashtun community. Amnesty International and International Crisis Group have also documented extensive human rights abuses in the region, calling for investigations and accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)