17 militants named in Adezai attack

The dead buried; committee formed to investigate the deadly strike.

PESHAWAR:

A criminal case was registered on Thursday against 17 militants of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for masterminding Wednesday’s deadly attack on a funeral congregation in Adezai.

The police have formed a team to investigate the attack, a senior police official told The Express Tribune. Superintendent of the Police (SP) Rural Circle Abdul Kalam Khan said that the investigative team will be headed by the SSP Investigations, Peshawar.

“The team comprises five to six officers (of various security agencies). It will look into various aspects of the attack and will work under the supervision of the city police chief,” Kalam said.

He said that the police had found some clues and were pursuing them, adding that it would be premature to disclose anything at this stage.

Dilawar Khan, the head of the Adezai Lashkar, told The Express Tribune that they were in mourning for their fallen comrades, adding that they had been buried.

So far, he said, no government functionary has contacted them about their grievances and demands. “Why should we contact them, they should contact us…we are the aggrieved party,” Dilawar said.

He said that the Lashkar would decide its next course of action during a meeting that will be held soon. “Many of our affiliates have lost their family members, so once this mourning period is over, we will decide what to do next,” Dilawar added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2011.