Summary On Tuesday, 18 bodies were found dumped across Bara district of Khyber Agency.
Amnesty International called on the authorities to investigate and bring anyone identified as responsible for unlawful killings to justice in fair trials.
On Thursday, protesters gathered outside the residence of the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the Peshawar Press Club after 18 bodies were found dumped across Bara district of Khyber Agency the previous day.
Relatives claim the 18 people were shot dead by soldiers of the Frontier Corp, part of the Pakistan armed forces, either during or after raids on their homes. The victims include seven members of the same family.
“Our research indicates that bodies of people who have been arrested by the armed forces are being returned to their families or apparently found dumped across the Tribal Areas almost every week,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.
“Unless these deaths are properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice – without recourse to the death penalty - the cycle of violence will continue.”
