The Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), waged a years-long insurgency there that ended with a major military crackdown in 2014.
But there has been a resurgence in unrest since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul last year.
The TTP has claimed dozens of attacks in recent weeks, mostly against security forces and anti-Taliban elders.
“We are tired and can no longer carry dead bodies,” said Muhammad Ali Shah, the former mayor of Swat.
“It is the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens and provide them with security, but the government’s silence on all these incidents is criminal.”
More than 5,000 people blocked a main road through Mingora, sparked by the latest attack on a school bus on Monday, in which the driver was killed and a 10 or 11-year-old boy wounded.
The TTP have denied responsibility and the police said they are investigating the motive.
Students and teachers walked out of schools – including the school attended by Yousafzai that her father established – to call for peace.
“Our protest will continue until the arrest of the killers, we will not rise from here until the top government officials assure us of justice and an end to militancy,” said doctor Amjad Ali, 36.