String of attacks: SHO slain at Karkhano market

Peace militia chief killed along with son and nephew in targeted blast.

PESHAWAR: An afternoon attack by unidentified militants on Hayatabad police station SHO Mera Jan in Karkhano market left the police official dead and four other people injured.

Talking to journalists in Karkhano, SP Cantonment Muhammad Faisal said the SHO along with his gunman, Sajjad, and driver, Ibrar, was escorting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) supply vehicles when unidentified men opened fire at them. Two pedestrians were also injured as a result. Witness Saleemullah, who is a shopkeeper at Azeem market, said three containers crossed Karkhano check post with the SHO escorting them in a red car. Right after the vehicles passed, three men on a motorcycle opened fire at the SHO’s car. “His gunman stepped out from the vehicle … although he was bleeding he rushed towards a nearby shop and took position to fire back,” said Saleemullah, adding by that time the militants escaped. The vehicle was also damaged in the firing, he said.

After the incident, shopkeepers shifted the SHO’s body and the injured to Hayatabad Medical Complex. Heavy contingents of police also rushed to the spot and surrounded the area. A search operation was launched, but no arrests were made till this report was filed.

Militia leader killed

The chief of a pro-government committee in Jani Khel was killed along with his son and nephew when an improvised explosive device planted along the roadside detonated in Bannu on Wednesday.

Malik Hashim Khan, his son Muhammad Niaz and nephew Zakaullah were en route to Bannu city from Hindi Khel when the incident occurred, said DSP Mussanif Shah.

Shah said the incident took place at around 7:45am, explaining a huge explosion occurred when Malik’s vehicle reached Sra Bangla Algada in Zandi Falak Sher, a deserted area in the limits of Hawaid police station. “The blast reduced the vehicle to small pieces of metal that were scattered over a 150-metre radius.”

The DSP said although a search operation was launched, no arrests were made till the filing of this report.

According to Wasal Khan, BDS in-charge of Bannu, 50 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the device targeting Malik. “The bomb was powerful enough to have demolished a two-storey building,” the official added. After recent attacks in Jani Khel, Malik had raised an armed militia to curb militancy and was working for the development of the area alongside the government. Being an elder of his area, Malik was also a social activist. He was responsible for launching multiple water supply schemes and was working as a bridge between the political administration of Jani Khel, Frontier Region Bannu and the tribesmen of his area.

TTP has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

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