The vehicle had offloaded supplies in Afghanistan and was on its way back when two armed, masked men stepped out from a narrow street and sprayed the driver’s side with bullets, said Asmatullah Wazir, a political administration officer.

The official added a khasadar official deployed at the bazaar informed them of the incident at 11am. When they reached the spot, they saw the bullet-riddled vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road with the driver lying dead nearby.

“We parked the empty container at the roadside and shifted the body to the Jamrud Civil Hospital”. The deceased, identified as Zarwali Khan, was an Afghan citizen.

After the incident, khasadars surrounded the area and launched a search operation, arresting 17 people. The suspects were shifted to the political administration office for investigations while security was tightened on routes to and from the tehsil.

Meanwhile, a man who identified himself as Abu Hamza and cited his association with an unknown militant group, called reporters and took responsibility for the attack.

The political administration official, however, termed Hamza’s claim ‘baseless’. “The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is attacking the Nato containers, no one else was involved,” Wazir said.

In July 2012, Nato traffic was temporarily suspended after gunmen attacked trucks, killing a driver in Jamrud. Islamabad also imposed a seven-month blockade on overland Nato traffic after US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 2011.

This was the sixth attack on Nato vehicles in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since the beginning of this year.

Timeline of casualties in attacks since Nato resumed

June 24, 2012:

Nato driver killed and another worker injured, suspending supplies once again.

November 20, 2012:

Two gunmen on a motorcycle fire at a Nato truck, killing its driver and injuring an assistant

December 23, 2012:

A Pakistani driver and cleaner were killed in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan

April 14, 2013:

A driver of a Nato vehicle killed in Jamrud when the container was on its way back from Afghanistan

March 23, 2013:

A driver killed and two others injured when a convoy of 10 Nato oil tankers came under attack in Wazir Dandh, Jamrud tehsil.

February 19, 2013:

Two drivers killed and a man injured when unidentified militants opened fire at Nato vehicles in Landikotal.

February 18, 2013:

Gunmen attack a convoy of vehicles carrying military equipment for Nato, killing the driver and his helper.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2013.

JAMRUD: A 28-year-old man was gunned down by unidentified militants in Shahkas, tehsil Jamrud of Khyber Agency on Wednesday.

Haji Khandad Afridi, an official of the khasadar force, said two armed men riding a motorcycle stopped near the young man identified as Nawaz Afridi and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.

An eyewitness, Islam Noor who was also injured in the incident, revealed he and Nawaz were watching a cricket match when two masked men entered the ground and started checking the identity cards of all the tribesmen at the ground at gunpoint.

Noor said the gunmen approached Nawaz and opened fire at him after taking one look at his identity card. Everyone started running to their houses in panic, while the attackers escaped on their motorcycle, he added.

The khasadar official reached the site and rushed Noor and Nawaz to Civil Hospital Jamrud where doctors declared Nawaz dead.

The deceased was reportedly working in Afghanistan. Another eyewitness, Gulab Khan, said, “Despite the political administration’s ban on travelling on motorcycles in Jamrud, the militants were on a motorbike and no one stopped them.”

An official of the political administration Asmatullah Wazir said they launched a search operation in the area and arrested 30 motorcyclists for violating the administration’s orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2013.

Daniyal, 14, was taking his mother to school when unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle intercepted them and opened fire, leaving her severely injured. “She was shot thrice in the upper body,” said political administration official Asmatullah Wazir.

Following the incident, the school’s owner, Malik Khanwali, shifted her to Hayatabad Medical Complex but she died three hours after being taken for surgery.

Shehnaz’s death comes after similar attacks on teachers and aid workers, including that on social worker Farida Afridi and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Coordinator Zarteef Afridi.

Her husband Isthiaq Khan said she did not see this coming and worked fearlessly in the troubled region. “She never told me about any threats or fears she had… she was not scared of militancy in the region. When security problems in Khyber Agency worsened I told her she should transfer to a school in the settled areas, but she said she only wanted to work for the people here. I never thought such a tragedy would happen.”

Shehnaz was a headmistress at Community Girls School in Shahkas. Prior to that she was working for a government primary school for girls in Bara, but because of security problems the school was shifted to Shahkas in Jamrud.

“My eldest daughter suffers from mental disabilities. I do not know who will take care of her now,” Khan said.

Shehnaz had many plans that day. A brother’s wedding to shop for, some examination papers to correct. She now leaves behind three children.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2013.

Hashish is supplied to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where consumers are willing to pay nearly 10 times more than those in Jamrud, Nisar said.

“We don’t transport it. We just sell it in the agency,” he said, adding that people buy it from them and smuggle it through the Karkhano check post on mules, horses and in vehicles.

Taj Muhammad, a real estate agent and builder in Hayatabad, while loading his cigarette with moist green hashish said that if the hashish is dry, it loses its effect and gives a headache. He has been addicted to it for 15 years and believes it is less harmful than tobacco.

There are no official statistics on total hashish production in the valley. A tribesman familiar with the matter, however, said that a banned outfit controls the price and is heavily invested in the business. In November and December last year, a kilogramme was being sold for Rs65,000 while in June, July and August, the supply increased, dropping the price down to Rs45,000. There are about 250 shops selling hashish in the Wazir Dandh area, Jamrud.

Wahid Gul Afridi, a khasadar force official, is known for recovering thousands of kilogrammes of hashish and has been especially posted at a checkpoint to do just this.

“My instincts can catch hashish dealers, even when the drugs are hidden in vehicles,” he said, adding that he can sense traffickers by their “strange looks”. Gul claims that his resolve has not been broken by the numerous bribes offered to him. “I do this work to get a promotion; I don’t do it for bribes.”

(Written by Muhammad Irfan)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly mentioned that farmers grow poppy. The error has been rectified.

JAMRUD: A wave of panic ran through Zakha Khel tribemen in the Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Friday after Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) fighters told them to find them new recruits and money or leave the area.

Talking to journalists from an undisclosed location, LeI spokesperson Abu Rasheed Lashkari said the Zakakhel tribesmen were opposed to the LeI and therefore it had issued a warning to them.

He said that the LeI’s local commander Kandahar Afridi had distributed pamphlets and announced from local mosques in Shalobar, Naweya Qamar and Baz Garha areas of the Bara tehsil that every family of the Zakhakhel tribe should either offer one volunteer to LeI, pay Rs0.3 million or leave the area.

Talking to The Express Tribune Toor Gul*, a Zakhakhel tribesman from the troubled Shalobar area, said the pamphlets had spread fear among Zakhakhel families in the area.

“We were told that each family should provide a fighter or pay LeI. I can’t provide a fighter,” he said in a shaken tone.

Gul, a businessman with house and property worth millions of rupees, said he cannot leave the area, because his “options are limited.”

Fahim Afridi *, a tribesman living in Nawiya Qamar area of Malikdin Khel, said that more than 1,000 families of the Zakhakhel tribe and its sub-clan Ziauddin are living in Baz Garha and Nawiya Qamar areas.

He said that militant commander Kandahar Afridi, along with dozens of LeI men, toured the area’s local mosques and announced through its loudspeakers that we could leave the area, pay LeI militants or provide a recruit.

Fahim Afridi said that as he could not afford to pay the group nor provide any fighter to militants. “I and some more families have decided to leave the area but when the LeI men found that we were leaving, they blocked all the routes,” he said.

Another tribesman, who requested anonymity, said that LeI militants had also warned the medics in the area not to treat any patient of the Zakhakhel tribe. “Most members of the Zakhakhel tribesmen, along with their families were stranded in the area.”

The political administration officials refused to comment on the issue created due to the wave of violence and fear let loose by LeI militants in the region.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2013.

JAMRUD / PESHAWAR: The mutilated body of a Sikh businessman was found in a gunny bag in Choura Village of Jamrud tehsil, Khyber Agency on Tuesday.

A tribesman of the village Hazrat Wali Afridi found the body of Mahinder Singh near a field early morning, said political administration official Asmatullah Wazir. He added Afridi informed the political administration, who shifted the body to Civil Hospital, Jamrud.

A father of six, Mahinder was a resident of Tabi Village in Landikotal tehsil. He was kidnapped two months earlier by unidentified militants from his shop where he used to sell herbal medicines, said Wazir.

He said a note was also found inside the gunny bag warning others of a similar fate if they are found spying for the  banned outfit Lashkar-e-Islam headed by Mangal Bagh.

The body was later handed over to the relatives of the deceased. “The body of Mahinder Singh has been brought to Attock where it would be cremated as per our religious rituals,” Mahinder’s cousin Popandar Singh said.

He said this was the second such incident in which a Sikh was kidnapped and then brutally murdered.

Leader of the community Baba Amarjeet Singh said they requested the political administration to ensure Mahinder’s release several times, but no action was taken.

Earlier, Mahinder’s brother Baswant Singh was also kidnapped, but later released after militants chopped off his hair. In February 2010, the beheaded body of Chopal Singh was found in Tirah Valley.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2013.

Akhtar Munir, the nephew of the school’s owner, was sleeping in one of the building’s rooms when the bomb planted by unidentified militants went off at around 12:10am and reduced the entire structure to debris.

The owner, Maweez Khan, reported the incident to the police saying he heard a huge blast and found the school in ruins when he reached the site.

A Khasadar official, Tehsenullah said Munir’s body was pulled out of the debris by locals. “He was killed on the spot due to the impact of the blast,” he added.

Munir was a well-known cricketer of the area and one of the key batsmen of Al Haj Cricket Club. He played first-class cricket and recently went on a tour to Bangladesh. He was also scheduled to play a match in the ongoing Assistant Political Agent Cricket Tournament at Jamrud Sports Ground at 11am on Monday.

The team’s skipper Taimur said Munir was a humble and soft spoken person. “His favourite player was Saeed Anwar and he always wanted to play for the national team,” added Taimur.

This was the second time the school was targeted. Earlier, two rooms were destroyed in a blast and the political administration claimed the two suspects were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2013.

Tribal elders of the Kuki Khel held a jirga met officials of the political administration on Wednesday, where locals stressed on the need to protect the honour and dignity of tribesmen in the ongoing offensive.

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly killed during a raid by security forces in Ghundi Abdalkhel area of Jamrud tehsil day earlier. Security forces, however, denied any incident of a girl being killed.

A man identified as Tail Akber was arrested over his links with a banned outfit in the operation. Officials said they conducted the raid on the house of the accused after a tip-off about his links with some banned outfits.

Kuki Khel tribesmen appealed to the governor to take necessary measures to protect them, adding that legal action should be taken against those involved in the murder.

Tribesmen said they will continue their protest until they are provided justice. They have also convened a jirga today (Thursday) to chalk out their future line of action.

A political administration official Asmatullah Wazir told The Express Tribune that the issue will be taken up with senior officials and the administration is trying to ensure that no such incident happens again.

“We came out of our house after hearing gunshots and thought that there is a robbery in the neighbourhood,” said resident Zarghon Shah. He added that they learnt about the raid in the morning.

Shah said that the locals have supported the government for the restoration of peace in the agency and will continue to do so in the future as well.

Meanwhile, two security personnel were injured in a roadside bomb blast on Tuesday when they were travelling from Bara tehsil to the Jansi fort. The wounded men were identified as Noman Ahmed and Naik Shahman Gul.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.

The white car, rigged with explosives, was set off by a remote control in the middle of Jamrud Bazaar, Assistant Political Agent Jehangir Azam Wazir confirmed to The Express Tribune.

“At least 21 people, among them women and children, were killed and 64 others were wounded,” Wazir said. “Some of the bodies were mutilated beyond recognition,” he added. “Nine of the injured are said to be in critical condition.”

According to Agency Surgeon Dr Sameen Jan Shinwari, most of the injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Jamrud, while those with critical wounds were referred to hospitals in nearby Peshawar.

“Four women were among the dead and they were all Afghans. These women were coming from the border in a hired car, which was destroyed. These women’s Afghan passports were found in a bag,” said Shinwari.

He said a five-year-old Afghan girl accompanying the women and two six-year-old Pakistani boys were also among those killed. The bodies of the Afghan victims were collected by officials from the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar.

The Express Tribune correspondent saw pools of blood and charred bodies at the roadside. Clothes, children’s shoes and Burqas littered the site. Officials confirmed that at least 15 vehicles and 10 shops were destroyed in the blast.

Witnesses spoke of harrowing scenes after the explosion. “The white car exploded right in front of my shop. Thick, black smoke and dust enveloped the bazaar soon after,” shopkeeper Syed Rehman told The Express Tribune.

“Another car standing nearby also caught fire, killing all five people inside – all women and children,” he added. “They appeared to be Afghan nationals.”

Driver Taj Muhammad, 40, said he was entering Jamrud when he heard the explosion and saw a ball of fire.

“I rushed to the site and saw people engulfed by flames. There were pieces of human flesh and blood everywhere. I saw a little child who was injured and crying. I took this boy to hospital,” he told AFP.

“When I picked up the injured boy he looked like my son and I was really sad.”

Another witness said it was the third major blast in the Zakakhel bazaar. “Sixty-five people were killed and over 100 injured in two earlier blasts on April 29 and January 10,” said the witness, Muzamil Khan.

An official of the Bomb Disposal Squad from Khyber Rifles said the car was packed with over 20 kilogrammes of explosives.

Political Agent Mutahir Zeb played down the idea that the government office was the intended target, but said authorities were still investigating. “We are still ascertaining what procedure exactly was used to blow up the vehicle,” he said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.

The bomb attack came two days after a brazen Taliban attack on Peshawar airport and a day after militants, who had fled the airport attack, were killed in an operation by police and army commandos in a village near Peshawar. (With additional input from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2012.

JAMRUD: Tribesmen in Jamrud have warned to block the Afghan Highway if action is not taken against a doctor who charges patients visiting the emergency unit of the Civil Hospital.

“I took my relative to the hospital and the one doctor on duty, Shaukat Afridi, said he would not treat him unless I give Rs100,” said Malik Mian Jan Afridi. He added that many people are not aware that public hospitals do not charge money. “Doctors and nurses hide this fact from the patients.”

The hospital’s Agency Surgeon Dr Sameen Jan Shinwari said that no one in the government hospital is allowed to charge money for treatment.  In case of violation, strict action would be taken against the staff involved in minting money or misbehaving, he said, adding, “We have set up a committee that will inquire about the issue and submit a report within two days.” The inquiry will be conducted by Medical Superintendent Dr Pir Muhammad.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior staff member, requesting anonymity, said that is not the first time that Dr Shaukat has charged a fee. He added that the accused also runs a private clinic in the mornings.

Koki Khel tribe chief Malik Faizullah Jan said that the political administration has been told countless times about medical staff misbehaving with patients. “When nurses deliver a baby, they ask the family for money,” he said adding that the officials concerned should take action and suspend the staff involved.

Dr Afridi, however, denied all charges against him. “Don’t I know that we are not allowed to charge a fee? There are some people who want me to quit and they are conspiring against me,” he said. “I am sincere to my profession.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2012.