The Awami National Party (ANP) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) have strongly condemned the Bannu blasts, calling the tragic incident a glaring failure of the government and defense institutions.
In a statement from ANP’s headquarters in Wali Bagh, Charsadda, party president Aimal Wali Khan criticized the federal and provincial governments for their ‘insensitivity and negligence’ towards the safety of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He denounced the attack and accused mainstream media of ignoring the killings of innocent civilians.
He lamented that the people of KP, especially in the southern districts, live under constant threat of violence, yet their suffering goes unnoticed. He also blamed internal divisions among Pakhtuns for their continued struggles, urging unity and political awareness to prevent further destruction.
ANP’s provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain stated that Pakhtuns continue to pay the price for state policies with their blood. He condemned the loss of 12 lives in the Bannu attack, particularly during the holy month of Ramazan, and criticized those responsible for bringing back militants. He reiterated ANP’s longstanding opposition to the resettlement of terrorists, warning that the resulting violence was now impacting innocent citizens. He called for the full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure public safety.
Similarly, QWP chairman Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, in a statement from Peshawar, denounced the attack, noting that terrorist incidents were rising while institutions remained limited to mere condemnations. He expressed grief over the attack on Bannu Cantonment, which claimed the lives of many, including children, and left dozens injured. He stressed that the province’s deteriorating law and order situation was a direct result of the failure to implement NAP.