Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Faces Security Crisis as Militants Roam Freely, Warns HRCP

PESHAWAR, Sep 27: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the merged tribal districts, highlighting that militant groups are operating with near-total impunity.

Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt and Co-Chairperson Munizae Jahangir said the writ of the state is largely absent in several areas, leaving residents vulnerable to intimidation, extortion, and informal curfews imposed by armed groups after sunset.

The HRCP’s fact-finding mission linked the rise in violence, forced displacement, and ongoing security operations to resource competition, including disputes related to the proposed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025. The commission also called for a transparent investigation into the recent killings in Tirah and urged both provincial and federal authorities to take responsibility rather than shifting blame.

Further, the HRCP criticised the continuation of the controversial Action in Aid of Civil Power Ordinance 2019, which allows preventive custody and detention. The commission highlighted the persistent issue of enforced disappearances, with thousands of unresolved cases exposing weak regulatory and judicial oversight.

The commission also expressed concern over the revival of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms by some legal groups, warning that such practices could undermine the formal justice system and erode the rule of law.

During a visit to Bara tehsil in Khyber district, PML-N President Engineer Amir Muqam met families affected by the Tirah violence, underscoring the urgent need for restoring law and order.

HRCP emphasised that the security vacuum in K-P must be addressed immediately to protect residents from continued militant intimidation and lawlessness.