The protest was sparked by the alleged killing of a minor girl in a mortar strike a day earlier in the Peer Mela area of Zakhakhel. Amid this incident hundreds of tribesmen carried the girl s body to the Brigade Headquarters to demand justice.

Initially peaceful, the protest escalated when a group of young demonstrators set an excavator ablaze and attempted to force entry into the military compound.

Taking advantage of the situation and displaying their usual cowardice, deceit, and disruptive intent Fitna al Khawarij opened indiscriminate fire from nearby mountains on the unarmed protesters.

Security forces immediately shifted injured to hospitals in Shah Kas, Bara, and Peshawar, with at least one in critical condition.

Security sources alleged that militants hiding in nearby mountains exploited the unrest, firing on protesters to incite violence and undermine trust between civilians and the military. They labelled it part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the region.

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In response, security officials met tribal elders and announced compensation for the victims. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government pledged Rs10 million for each deceased and Rs2.5 million for the injured. A judicial inquiry has also been demanded by lawmakers.

Prime Minister Shehbaaz Sharif also condemned the incident calling it a fool attempt of Fitna al Khawarij to spoil peace in the region.

Overall the situation in Tirah remains tense but under control following mediation by local elders.