Politicians under assault: Amir Muqam escapes bomb attack

Five police officials killed in Shangla explosion; drive-by shooting claims life of ANP leader.

PESHAWAR/ SHANGLA: A separate bomb and gun attack on Sunday targeted a convoy carrying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s senior aide Amir Muqam in Shangla district and a car ferrying Awami National Party (ANP) leader back to Peshawar from his home village. The two attacks left ANP leader Mian Mushtaq and at least seven other people dead.

Muqam was unhurt when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy but three policemen and two security guards travelling with him were killed by the blast.

“Amir Muqam was on his way to attend a jirga to solve a dispute between two rival groups in Martong when the incident took place, on the way, in Garay area of Shangla,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Muhammad Zaman of Puran Circle.

Muqam, one of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) key figures in the K-P, had set out from his residence in Chagam area of Shangla for Martong with four police vans.

“When the convoy reached Garay area, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near one of the vehicles, followed by another powerful explosion in which  five men lost their lives,” Zaman said.

The DSP said the explosion occurred near the last vehicle in the convoy. “It was the vehicle owned by Amir Muqam and was used by his personal secretary and guards,” he added.

“Muqam remained safe as his vehicle was in the middle of the convoy,” he explained, adding that following the attack the bodies were shifted to Pir Muhammad Shaheed Hospital in Puran, and were later sent to their hometowns after the postmortem.

Zaman said heavy contingents of police and security forces rushed to the area after the explosions.

“The administration also imposed curfew in Aloch Bazaar and Garay areas and launched a search operation,” the official said, adding that around 20 kilogrammes of explosives were used in both explosions, according to Bomb Disposal Squad.

Talking from his residence, where a large number of peoples had gathered, Muqam said it was the sixth attack on him by militants. However, he had remained safe in all them. “I am only worried about the police and my personal guards, who died in the blast,” he said.

The PML-N leader said militants’ attacks could not deter his courage and he would continue serving the people of his area. “Such attacks are carried out by those who want to destabilise the nation. They [militants] are trying to silence my voice but I will always stand firm and will not leave the path of truth,” Muqam told reporters.

While militants have been targeting activists of other political parties, it was the first attack on a member of the PML-N since the party took over in June.

PM condemns attack

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday expressed grave concerns over the attack on one of his advisers, Amir Muqam.

The PM condemned the bomb blasts in strong words and directed the interior minister to hold a detailed inquiry in the incident to bring the culprits – ‘responsible for such a heinous act’ – to justice, sources said.

 “The prime minister also condoled the deaths of security personnel and other people in the incident,” the official statement said.

Awami National Party (ANP) former office-bearer Mian Mushtaq was killed along with a friend and driver in his native village on Sunday evening.

Mushataq was returning to Peshawar after his routine Sunday visit to his native village Maso Khel, when unidentified attackers shot at his vehicle.

 “His driver Nadeem Khan was killed on the spot, while Mian Mushtaq and friend Gul Rehman Mama were injured and rushed to the hospital. But they died before reaching there,” said an official of the local Badhaber police station.

 “It is targeted killing. No doubt about it,” he said.

Mian Mushtaq served as provincial vice president of the ANP until recently while Gul Rehman was the head of the Suliman Khel union council.

“They were the most ardent workers of the ANP in this area as Mian Mushtaq joined the party in 1991 as a youngster and remained affiliated with it till his death,” said the ward president of the ANP and general secretary of the Tapa Mohamand Aman Committee, Mukamal Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2014.