Bannu Bleeds, I Bleed: Shandana Gulzar Khan’s video Statement

The Member of National Assembly (MNA) Shandana Gulraz Khan delivers a powerful video statement addressing the Bannu violence, which resulted in the deaths of innocent protesters and left several others injured.

In her recent video statement, Shandana Gulzar Khan said ‘We condemn unequivocally. And any orders given to us, any marching orders by the party, I shall be the first to reach Banu. But this is a warning to the world. Don’t mess with Pakistan.’

Here’s the complete transcript:

My name is Shandana Gulzar Khan. I’m an elected member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Peshawar. My message, however, has nothing to do with my political affiliation, my ethnicity, or my city. It has to do with peace, and this is a warning to the world. Today, a horrific incident of violence took place during a peace rally in Bannu.

According to Senator Mushtak, who was there at the time, he is reported to have said that nearly 40 civilians have been injured and another four have been murdered.

This violence is simply unacceptable. I unequivocally condemn this violence. I call upon Ali Amin Khan and the entire PTI leadership to issue both a message condemning this violence against civilians, as well as a strategy and a way of action.

Tomorrow, we will all march to Bannu. All of Pakistan must march to Bannu. Secondly, I call upon the Supreme Court of Pakistan that is busy in PTI cases to, for God’s sake, open your eyes, take a suo moto, look at our constitutional rights.

The people have a right to speak. The people have a right to march. The people have a right to a peaceful rally.

Who allows any gunfire, let it be civilian gunfire or friendly fire, on others who are walking? This is not acceptable.

We condemn this violence. Supreme Court is expected to act. I’m requesting my party as well. Please come out with a manifesto with an agenda. We have to act for Bannu. Bannu is ours. We are Bannu. And this is not a KP problem. This is not a Pashtun problem. This is a Pakistan problem.

Terrorism is not welcome in any form or guise. We will stand by our people. We will stand by our country. Nobody’s allowed to dismember Pakistan. Nobody’s allowed to turn a dirty look on the citizens of Pakistan. And Bannu belongs to me and I belong to Bannu. Bannu bleeds, I bleed. We have to stand with Bannu.

We condemn unequivocally. And any orders given to us, any marching orders by the party, I shall be the first to reach Banu. But this is a warning to the world. Don’t mess with Pakistan.

We are not Palestine, we are not Ukraine. We don’t have the patience or the strength of Palestinians. We will retaliate. Do not test our patience. Pakistan zindabad.

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