Tribesmen block highway in KP's Khyber in protest of targeted killings

Enraged Zakhakhel tribesmen blocked the main highway to Torkham in Pakistan's Khyber region on Saturday, vowing to take up arms in self-defense after two men were killed in a targeted attack Friday evening.

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armed tribesmen would be assigned the responsibility of patrolling local areas.

Led by tribal elder Malak Abdullah Khan, the protesters, including political activists and civic society members, declared that armed tribesmen would patrol local areas. They also imposed a ban on motorcycle riding and instructed government employees from the Zakhakhel tribe to cease their duties until peace was restored. Additionally, they called for a boycott of polio vaccination drives and the closure of all schools in the Zakhakhel area.

The demonstrators refused to meet any government officials until a "meaningful crackdown" was launched against suspected militants in the Mazreena area. They even advised local police to avoid wearing uniforms to prevent becoming targets. A fine of Rs1 million was announced for anyone found spying for militant groups or law enforcement agencies. The road blockade is set to continue until the perpetrators of the targeted killings are apprehended and the area is cleared of "undesirable elements."

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the road blockade will continue till the culprits involved in the targeted killing were apprehended and the area was cleansed of all undesirable elements.

The highway closure disrupted the return of Afghan families, leaving many vehicles stranded. The Zakhakhel elders also criticized recent government raids and the arrest of residents, stating that armed locals patrol roads at night while law enforcement agencies have failed to curb their movement. This protest follows two previous killings since Ramazan, including the shooting of two policemen and a relative of an officer.

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armed men, mostly local residents, regularly conduct patrolling of the main road at night, while the law enforcement agencies have failed to check their movement.