Thousands of people in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, gathered to demand security and peace in their areas.

The protesters criticized the rising tensions between the Pakistan Army and the TTP, which have disrupted their lives.

The protests turned violent, and according to the protesters, firing by Pakistani soldiers led to the deaths of several demonstrators.

One of the protesters said: "The army and security forces fired upon hundreds of thousands of people who were protesting for security, resulting in some being martyred and others injured."

The leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement also views the attack on the protesters as a sign of the Pakistan government's opposition to peace in the region.

Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, said: "They are our countrymen, we will not abandon them, we will all stand by them. Shooting at the rally is clear evidence of the government's opposition to peace in Pashtun land."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army launched this military operation following a cabinet decision on June 22 aimed at combating terrorism; an operation that has also faced opposition from Pakistan's political opponents.