Swatis protesting school van attack end hours-long sit-in after successful negotiations

Swat: Thousands of Swat people, who took to streets to protest a recent attack on a school bus in Charbagh tehsil, ended their 40-hour sit-in after successful negotiations with the administration on Tuesday. 

The family members of a van driver, who was killed in the attack, led the protesters. A sit-in was staged on the main Kalam-Swat road blocking the artery for traffic.

The protestors had been demanding the arrest of the culprits behind the attack and warned of marching to Islamabad if authorities failed to meet their demands within 24 hours. 

Earlier today, Swat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Junaid Khan reached the protest site with other officials and held talks with the demonstrators.

After the assurances of timely arrest of culprits and compensation for the children of the driver, the protesters offered final prayers of the deceased.

The van was taking students to a school in Gulibagh area of the Charbagh tehsil when unidentified assailants, riding on a motorcycle, had opened fire. The driver was killed on the spot, while two students were moved to the hospital after sustaining injuries.

Locals have blamed the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan for the attack, but the group has denied responsibility. Any other organisation has also not claimed responsibility so far.

Score of people also gathered in Mingora city and chanted slogans of “no more terrorism and we demand peace from the state” as hundreds of people took to the streets demanding justice.

The protest, which was organised by the Swat Olasi Pasoon, was attended by thousands of people, including civil society members, students, teachers, lawyers, doctors, transporters, and the youth.