LAKKI MARWAT: Elders of Bannu Qaumi Jirga and representatives of trader bodies on Monday called off their week-long protest sit-in for restoration of peace and action against armed groups.

Civil society members, local government representatives and people from other walks of life attended the protest camp, which was put up at Maulana Abdul Sattar Shah Chowk in Bannu city for seven consecutive days.

On the concluding day, Abdul Rauf Qureshi, Nasir Khan, Malik Hayat Khan and other elders said the divisional and district administrations had assured them of excluding the names of some elders from Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act.

They added that the residents held two peaceful sit-ins for peace in the region, with tens of thousands of people attending them.

The elders said the provincial apex committee approved 16-point demands, urging the government to take practical steps to bring normalcy to the district and eliminate armed groups.

They said that the residents loved peace and wanted an amicable solution to their issues regarding the growing lawlessness and militancy.

The elders demanded authorities reinstate sacked police officials and implement their 16-point demands in letter and spirit.