Police Say Situation Under Control in Bara After Unrest
Capital City Police Peshawar on Tuesday said the situation in Bara, in Khyber district, is under control, urging the public not to pay attention to what it called baseless rumours.
A police spokesperson clarified that no police personnel were kidnapped in Bara, and said around 50 people had been arrested.
What happened at Bara Chowk
According to police and security officials, a group of miscreants — led by Abdul Ghani Afridi, Iqbal Afridi and Shahid Khattak — attempted to create unrest at Bara Chowk on Tuesday. They damaged public and private property, including the Rescue 1122 and NADRA offices in Bara.
Police said they took timely action, brought the situation under control and arrested those involved. Cases have been registered against the arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act for damaging government property, sabotage and disturbing public order.
Sources said a large number of those arrested are Afghan nationals. The three named leaders had gone into hiding after the operation. Further raids and arrests were expected as KP Police intensified operations to identify those involved in the rioting and vandalism.
Rumours denied
The police statement directly addressed reports circulating on social media. Officials denied that any policemen had been abducted and advised the public to rely on official information rather than unverified reports. Other reports suggested prisoner vans were being moved to Bara from Peshawar for a large-scale crackdown.
The spokesperson warned that attempts to disrupt peace and order would not be tolerated, and that action would be taken in accordance with the law.
Under the new emergency
The unrest comes days after the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, citing the growing terrorism threat and governance failures. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday that about 2,900 terrorist incidents were reported in the province between 2021 and 2024, rising by 195 per cent to roughly 8,600 over the last two years.
The police statement is the first official account of the situation since the violence erupted. Security officials said more prisoner vans were being moved from Peshawar to Bara, signalling that the crackdown on those involved in the rioting is far from over.
Related:
- PTI Protest in Bara Turns Violent, NADRA Office Torched
- Containers Block Roads in Peshawar Amid KP Emergency
- Four FBR Personnel, Cop Killed in DI Khan Firing
- 18 Terrorists Killed in KP, Balochistan Security Operations
- Afridi Rejects Governor’s Rule, Warns of PTI Long March
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Bara?
Miscreants attempted to create unrest at Bara Chowk on Tuesday, damaging the Rescue 1122 and NADRA offices. Police intervened and made around 50 arrests.
Were any policemen kidnapped?
No. Capital City Police Peshawar explicitly denied reports that any personnel were abducted, calling them baseless rumours.
Who led the unrest?
Police named Abdul Ghani Afridi, Iqbal Afridi and Shahid Khattak as the leaders; they went into hiding after the operation.
What charges have been filed?
Cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act for damaging government property, sabotage and disturbing public order.
