Back-to-back: Peace committee leader slain in Bajaur

Bullet-riddled body of another man found from Mohmand-Bajaur Road.


Our Correspondent September 28, 2014

GHALLANAI: A pro-government tribal elder and Salarzai Peace committee leader was killed by unidentified militants in Dara Kali, Salarzai in Bajaur Agency.

According to a political administration official, Malik Gul Akbar was ambushed when he was driving in Dara Kali area of Salarzai. An influential malik, Gul Akbar died in the gunfire.

In a statement issued to the press, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the tribal elder’s assassination.

In a separate incident, the bullet-riddled body of a man—identified as Sarfaraz Khan–was discovered near Ghazi Kor Mor on Mohmand-Bajaur Road.

According to political administration official, the man was abducted from his house in Ghallanai on Saturday.

Spokesperson for TTP offshoot Jamatul Ahrar (JuA) Ehsanullah Ehsan said Sarfaraz was killed by the group for his alleged links to intelligence agencies.

Spate of violence

Over the past few months, various pro-government peace committee leaders and their relatives have been reported killed or attacked in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies.

On September 26, three pro-government peace committee members died when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Daweezi, Pandialy tehsil in lower Mohmand Agency. Two of the deceased were identified as Muzammil Khan and Bacha Khan and were the brother and nephew of a peace committee leader. Gul Ahmed, the third victim was a peace committee volunteer.

After the incident, the political administration launched a search operation in the area. Later in the day, JuA issued a statement to the press and claimed responsibility for the attack.

In May, Safi peace committee leader Subidar Safi’s nephew Jahangir Khan was killed in an improvised explosive device blast in Safi, Mohmand Agency.

According to an official of the political administration, Jahangir was targeted by an IED while driving through Safi in his car. He was critically injured and was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the official added. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Mohmand Agency claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter. Nearly 20 suspects were arrested in a search operation after the incident.

Losing ground

After the military offensive was launched in North Waziristan, the TTP had divided itself into groups. Two of its many groups have become particularly active in these two tribal agencies.

Peace committees were established across the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to counter militancy through local influencers. Initially, they received full support from the district administration in the form of money and ammunition to the volunteers.

With time, local administrations in some areas bypassed them in matters relating to security after there were complaints against volunteers.

Some peace committee leaders who had once taken a keen interest in their work were discouraged and left the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.

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