Rawalpindi Incident: Women Released, Body Handed Over After Successful Pakhtun Jirga-Police Talks

Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development following the tragic Rawalpindi incident, the detained Pakhtun women were released and Siraj Mehsud’s body was handed over to the heirs after successful negotiations between the Pakhtun jirga and the local administration, bringing the sit-in to a peaceful conclusion.

Sharing details of the breakthrough, Zubair Khan Wazir, PTI MNA from South Waziristan, said that all detained women were released and the deceased boy was handed over to his heirs after continuous and tireless efforts.

PTI MNA said that he remained in close and sustained coordination with Talal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Interior & Narcotics Control, Gohar Ali Khan, PTI Chairman, and Raja Nasir Abbas, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, all of whom played a significant role in resolving the serious issue.

However, Zubair Khan Wazir stated that the Rawalpindi episode was not an isolated incident and expressed concern over the recurring issues faced by Pakhtuns in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

He announced that, following consultations with Pakhtun leaders and elders, a grand jirga will soon be convened in Islamabad to formulate a joint future strategy aimed at preventing recurrence of such incidents. He emphasized that the rights, dignity, and protection of Pakhtun citizens will be consistently raised at every forum and safeguarded through unity and collective decision-making.

He also appreciated the professional and respectful conduct of the Islamabad Police and Punjab Police during the process, and extended gratitude to tribal elders, youth, and civil society members for their peaceful and constructive role throughout the developments.

Separately, in his special video message, Asif Khan Mehsud, MPA from Upper South Waziristan, thanked all Pakhtuns who raised their voices on the matter and paid tribute to the elders, political workers, community leaders, and mediators whose efforts proved instrumental in resolving the issue.

He noted that the Punjab Police treated the detained women with dignity and respect, expressing hope that such an unfortunate incident would not recur in the future. He further stated that, following the burial, the jirga would seek reconciliation between the two families, as both sides had suffered the loss of one life, with the objective of bringing the dispute to a permanent end.

Reaffirming his commitment, he said he would continue to serve as the voice of his people at every forum during times of difficulty.

Speaking on the occasion, ex-minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Ajmal Khan Wazir lamented that the tragic and unfortunate incident stemmed from a dispute over a minor amount, which ultimately resulted in the loss of two lives, reflecting the growing intolerance in society.

He also urged Maryam Nawaz to ensure stronger protection and better treatment of women, stating that such unfortunate incidents had not occurred even in the former FATA region under the British-era Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) system of collective responsibility. He emphasized that such occurrences must be prevented in the future at all costs.

Ajmal Khan further thanked the local administration for accepting the demands of the Pakhtun jirga and for the respectful and dignified release of the detained women and the handover of the deceased’s body.

It is pertinent to note that the incident occurred around 1:30 PM on May 8 in Pir Meher Ali Shah Town on Chakri Road, Rawalpindi. According to the detail, Siraj Khan Mehsud, a shopkeeper originally from South Waziristan, had asked for repayment of a loan. The exchange reportedly escalated into a heated argument, which ultimately resulted in the tragic incident.