Intelligence-based operations and the gruesome murder of a senior trader and his colleague had weakened Tirah valley inhabitants, notably traders and transporters, in their desire for peace.
Haji Sher Mohammad, president of Tirah traders association, fell prey to his noble goal to eradicate extremism from the valley and restore peace via trade and tourism.
After he and his associate, Ibrar Afridi, were abducted by militants on Jan 30 for their alleged involvement in the killing of two important TTP commanders during an IBO in Bagh-Maidan on Jan 25, they were brutally murdered by TTP activists on Feb 4, 2025.
Since the gruesome murder of Haji Sher Mohammad and Ibrar Afridi, valley residents told Dawn on Friday that Lar-Bagh Markaz, Bar-Bagh Markaz, and Peer Mela were deserted.
Lar, Bar, and Peer Mela business centers look empty.
Snow on the mountains and heavy rains since February have kept the valley cool, they claimed.
According to valley resident Gul Zamin, while most residents were in constant fear due to armed militants in different parts of the valley, they were also fed up with the repeated IBOs because they limited their mobility.
He said nighttime gunshots, drones, and mortar shelling were terrifying.
He reported that armed groups and increased security checkpoints had impacted tourism and local citizens were avoiding unnecessary travel.
Another neighbor, Ejaz Afridi, said all valley schools were still closed and pupils were frightened to go to school owing to insecurity despite the conclusion of winter holidays on March 1.
After several drone and quadcopter attacks on schoolchildren in recent months, parents were also hesitant to send their children to school.
Tirah valley locals asked the inspector general of police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to arrange for a one-week stay of Khyber DPO in the valley every month since they were having trouble getting to Shahkas in Jamrud to resolve their issues.
They stated the DPO’s weekly stay every month will strengthen peace and order in the valley and restore Tirah’s faith in Khyber police.
The Fata Loya Jirga (FLJ) demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Kukikhel elder Malak Naseer Ahmad and rights activists Najeebur Rehman alias Majboor Pashteen on Friday.
The FLJ chairman told a press conference at Bara Press Club that the two were arrested on a phony FIR with no basis.
It was impossible to subdue their effort to overturn the merger of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he remarked.
