MIR ALI, Pakistan — A Defiant Utmanzai Rally drew thousands of tribesmen and political leaders in North Waziristan on Friday, setting a Jan. 20 deadline for authorities to lift the curfew, restore security and reopen the Ghulam Khan border crossing. Organizers said repeated restrictions have strangled daily travel and trade, and they warned a civil disobedience campaign would follow if demands are ignored, Jan. 2, 2026.
Defiant Utmanzai Rally sets Jan. 20 deadline
Participants gathered at Noor Islam Shaheed Chowk and offered Friday prayers led by Member of the National Assembly Mufti Misbahuddin, according to Dawn’s report from the rally. Misbahuddin told the crowd the area could not “withstand further military operations,” and he added: “Peace is the greatest blessing, and tribal elders have always cooperated with the state, but the authorities never appear serious about restoring lasting stability.”
Waziristan Jirga chief Malik Nasrullah said the tribes would be compelled to announce “civil disobedience and block all internal and external routes” if officials did not act by the deadline, the Daily Times account said. Utmanzai tribe spokesperson Mufti Baitullah Aman framed the message as a plea to de-escalate, saying: “The people are asking for peace, not confrontation.”
The demands listed at the Defiant Utmanzai Rally included compensation for damaged shops, the return of seized non-custom-paid vehicles, removal of restrictions on some tribal elders, and the unblocking of passports and national identity cards, according to the Express Tribune. Speakers also urged militants to stay away from populated areas and called for police to be empowered while security forces focus on border security. Elders said nearly 20,000 people rely on cross-border trade through Ghulam Khan for their livelihoods.
How this curfew showdown built over time
The Defiant Utmanzai Rally follows months of public pressure over insecurity and movement restrictions. In July 2025, a Dawn report on rallies in North Waziristan described Utmanzai Jirga participants opposing any fresh military operation and seeking eased curfews and progress reminders on the Ghulam Khan crossing. Weeks later, another Dawn report said a complete curfew was imposed as residents and activists held a peace march against deteriorating law and order.
Tensions also flared after civilian deaths linked to suspected drone strikes. An AP report from May 2025 described thousands protesting in Mir Ali after a suspected drone strike killed four children, with local elders demanding accountability. The latest rally’s speakers pointed to that history as part of a pattern they say has left the district stuck between insecurity and shutdowns.
Organizers said the Defiant Utmanzai Rally’s Jan. 20 deadline is meant to force a clear response, not prolong confrontation. If there is no movement on the demands, seen most urgently in curfew rules and the border crossing’s status, elders said they will move ahead with a boycott and civil disobedience steps after the deadline.
