BANNU: Peace committee members blocked three key roads to protest against closure of mobile internet service, bringing traffic to a complete halt here on Monday.

The committee, which identified itself as “Police Peace Committee” staged a protest on Monday morning, blocking the Bannu–Miramshah, Bannu-Kohat and Bannu-Dera Ismail Khan highways. The closure of roads left thousands of passengers, vehicles and public transport stranded at various locations, while commuters traveling to and from Bannu faced lot of inconvenience.

The protesters demanded immediate restoration of mobile internet services, which have remained suspended in Bannu for the past two weeks. They also alleged that a number of their members had been transferred to other districts in an attempt to dismantle the committee, saying they would not accept the transfers and called for immediate reversal of their transfer orders. The demonstrators further demanded transfer of the DPO.

According to local residents, the blockade not only disrupted transportation but also significantly affected commercial activities, causing difficulties for traders and people traveling for their daily needs.

Meanwhile, district police officer captain (retd) Muhammad Furqan Bilal, while speaking to journalists at his office, clarified that the police had no affiliation with the so-called committee. He stated that it was a self-styled group with no official or institutional connection to the police. The DPO further said that members of the committee had attempted to interfere in the administrative affairs of the police lines and influence internal police matters.

However, he added that the police would soon regain full control of all administrative affairs and ensure that all official business was conducted strictly in accordance with the law.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026