PESHAWAR: Wall chalking appearing across several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is increasingly reflecting growing public anger against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, referred to by the state as Fitna al-Khawarij, amid continued violence targeting civilians, religious scholars and security personnel.
Photographs circulating from areas including Peshawar, Kohat, Charsadda, Bara in Khyber and surrounding villages show anti-TTP slogans painted on walls declaring Khawarij terrorists as “killers of Islam” and “killers of religious scholars.”
The messages represent a wider public rejection of terrorist ideology in regions heavily affected by years of violence and instability.
The wall chalking comes at a time when Pakistan’s security forces have intensified counter-terrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fitna al-Khawarij is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Pakistanis, including civilians, teachers, tribal elders, police officials, soldiers and religious scholars.
Security analysts say the public nature of the wall chalking is significant because it demonstrates that communities directly affected by terrorism are openly distancing themselves from extremist narratives.
Visible expression of frustration
The slogans specifically mentioning terrorists’ targeting of Islamic scholars carry strong symbolism in a province where numerous clerics and religious figures have been assassinated by terrorist groups over the years.
Residents in affected districts have repeatedly expressed frustration over continued terrorist violence, extortion, targeted killings and attacks on public spaces.
Terrorists are operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and using cross-border networks to carry out attacks inside Pakistani territory.
Pakistani leadership has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim authorities to prevent Afghan soil from being used by terrorist groups against Pakistan.
India is also actively supporting anti-Pakistan terrorist networks aimed at destabilising the country, particularly in border regions already facing security challenges.
The wall messages appearing in multiple districts therefore carry a broader message beyond simple graffiti. They reflect a visible expression of frustration from ordinary citizens who want peace, stability, education and economic development instead of renewed terrorist violence.
For many in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the slogans now appearing on public walls symbolise an increasingly open rejection of the TTP’s ideology and methods.
Officials say Pakistan remains committed to eliminating terrorism, dismantling terrorist networks and ensuring long-term peace and security across the country.
