Women Detention After Deadly Rawalpindi Incident Sparks Strong Reaction in Pashtun Community

Pashtun Jirga Demands Immediate Release of Women, Handing Over of Siraj’s Body

Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The Pashtun community has expressed deep anger and concern over what they termed “discriminatory handling” of the tragic incident in Rawalpindi’s Chakri area, where an alleged financial dispute between a shopkeeper, Siraj Khan Mehsud from Waziristan, and a local resident identified as Zain reportedly escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of both individuals.

According to reports, in the aftermath of the clash, police conducted a raid at Siraj’s residence, took several women from his family into custody, and took possession of his body. In contrast, Zain’s body was handed over to his heirs for burial. This reported discrimination in the handling of the two sides sparked a strong reaction within sections of the Pashtun community and led to the convening of an emergency jirga to deliberate on the situation and determine a collective course of action.

At the jirga, community representatives emphasized that Pashtuns are equal citizens of Pakistan and that the law and Constitution must be applied fairly, justly, and without discrimination or else they would leave with no option but stage protest sit-in in Lahore and Islamabad for justice.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from South Waziristan Zubair Khan Wazir participated in jirga consultations in Tarnol, Islamabad and addressed tribal elders, youth, and participants of the gathering.

He stated that the affected Mehsud family would not be left alone under any circumstances and assured that a strong voice would be raised at every forum against injustice and unfair treatment. He expressed full solidarity with the affected family and assured them of complete legal, political, and moral support. PTI MNA said he was in contact with relevant authorities to seek a prompt, fair, and lawful resolution of the matter.

Zubair Khan Wazir also strongly condemned the harassment of innocent women and the distress caused to the heirs, calling it a deeply regrettable act. He said that such actions were unacceptable and contrary to justice and human dignity.

After consultations with tribal elders and jirga members, it was decided that immediate engagement would be made with the relevant authorities and responsible officials to seek a swift and fair resolution of the matter. He reiterated that efforts would continue at all available forums to ensure justice for the affected family.

In a significant development, an important meeting is currently underway with the Superintendent of Police (SP) Islamabad and the Assistant Commissioner regarding the Rawalpindi incident. PTI MNA Zubair Khan Wazir is also present in the meeting.

The discussion focuses on ensuring immediate justice for the affected Mehsud family, addressing concerns regarding the alleged harassment of innocent women, and reviewing the overall situation in detail.

Earlier, participants of the jirga reiterated that they do not support any wrongdoing and demand that those responsible from both sides be dealt with strictly as per law. At the same time, they warned against ethnic profiling, collective punishment, and unlawful action against innocent family members, particularly women.

Addressing the jirga, Asif Khan, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, urged the government to ensure equal rights and protection for all citizens. He emphasized that if individuals from either side committed wrongdoing, they should be punished strictly in accordance with the law. However, he expressed concern that the affected Pashtun family appeared to have been subjected to what he described as collective punishment, an approach long abolished even in the former tribal areas, and termed such action unacceptable and intolerable. He called on Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice, ensure the release of the detained women, and facilitate the handing over of the deceased’s body to the heirs for burial.

Former provincial minister Ajmal Khan Wazir also called upon Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to intervene and ensure that the detained women are released without delay and the body is handed over to the family. He further appealed to Shehbaz Sharif and the Punjab government to ensure that Pashtun citizens living and working in Punjab and Islamabad are treated with dignity and without prejudice.

He recalled that many families were compelled to leave their hometowns due to military operations and were not displaced by choice, but out of necessity to earn their livelihoods. He emphasized that, under these circumstances, they deserve dignity, respect, and fair treatment rather than humiliation.

Ajmal Khan Wazir stated that the government should pay serious attention to their legitimate demands and ensure justice is delivered. He warned that if their concerns are not addressed, they would be left with no option but to stage protest sit-ins in Lahore, Islamabad, and other parts of the country to press for their rights.

Political leader Taj Wazir strongly condemned what he described as discriminatory treatment, particularly the detention of women and the violation of household sanctity. He urged unity among the community and announced that a committee would be formed to pursue the matter through legal and peaceful channels, demanding justice and fair treatment while insisting that only the actual wrongdoers be punished rather than the entire family.

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 local accounts, Siraj Khan Mehsud, a shopkeeper originally from South Waziristan, had asked for repayment of a loan when a heated exchange took place with a local youth identified as Zain. During the altercation, Siraj Khan was allegedly shot in front of his brothers. Residents claim that purported CCTV footage later surfaced showing the sequence of events, though authorities have yet to issue an official statement confirming the footage or the full details of the incident. Reports also suggest that the second individual was killed in subsequent retaliation.