BARA, KHYBER DISTRICT – Tensions escalated in Bara as protests entered second consecutive day, with reports of police firing, injuries among demonstrators and a fire at a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office.
According to preliminary reports, at least one protester has died after being shot during the unrest, while three civilians were reportedly injured in police firing. The circumstances surrounding the reported death and injuries remain unclear, and the details have yet to be independently verified.
The demonstrations have also brought Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers into confrontation with police, with reports of heavy tear gas shelling as security personnel attempted to disperse protesters.
PTI Workers Clash With Police
The situation in Bara remained tense as demonstrators took to the streets for a second day. Police reportedly used tear gas and firing to control the crowds, while protesters continued their demonstration.
A video circulating on social media appears to show a PTI worker being shot during the clashes. However, the location, timing and full circumstances depicted in the footage remain unconfirmed. Reports of casualties have heightened tensions in the area, although an official account of the incident and the reported death was not immediately available.
The unrest took a further turn when protesters reportedly set a NADRA office on fire. The incident raises concerns over damage to public infrastructure as tensions continue to mount in the district. The extent of the damage and the circumstances that led to the fire have not yet been independently established.
Meanwhile, reports of heavy tear gas use have added to concerns about the impact of the clashes on residents in the surrounding area.
The unrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the imposition of emergency rule and the suspension of the PTI-led provincial government.
Protests have been reported in parts of Khyber district, including Bara and Jamrud, as PTI supporters oppose the measures and express support for former chief minister Sohail Afridi.
The developments come at a time of an intensifying confrontation between the federal government and PTI, with the party rejecting the move against its provincial administration.