In the crosshairs: Traffic police official gunned down in Yakatoot

At least 14 killed in city in targeted attacks in April

PESHAWAR: Traffic police sub-inspector Aftab Khan was gunned down within the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station on Thursday. This appears to be yet another targeted attack.

He was a resident of Dora Road and was on his way to work on a motorbike when unidentified armed men shot and killed him on the spot.

The assailants fled the site after committing the crime. Police said the gunmen were armed with  pistols and empty cartridges were recovered from the scene of the attack.

“This is yet another target killing incident in Yakatoot,” a police official told The Express Tribune. “Earlier, ASI Qaisar Ali Shah had been gunned down in the Panj Khatta Chowk area of the same police jurisdiction.”

DSP Shaukat Khan confirmed this was a target killing. Aftab Khan was born in July 1977 and he joined the police force as a constable in July 2000. His last rites were held at Malik Saad Shaheed Lines at 10am. The funeral was attended by high-ranking police officials and the body was later sent to his ancestral village for burial.

Targeted

In April 2016, 14 people were killed in targeted attacks. The figure for last month was much higher than previous ones.

On Tuesday, a police constable was gunned down in the Saro Shah police jurisdiction on Tuesday. Separately, a police check post was attacked in Michni Gate near Warsak Road.

According to a police official, Muhammad Usman was on his way home after work in Akber Banda in Mardan. “Two masked men shot him and fled the site,” he said. His funeral was held at Police Lines in Mardan and was attended by a large number of police officials.

On February 9, a police sub-inspector was killed and a constable severely injured as armed men opened fire at their vehicle in Mardan.

Last month, unidentified motorcyclists shot dead two cops of the Elite Force Unit in Rashid Garhi within the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station.

Elite Force constable Shahzeb and his colleague, Special Police Officer (SPO) Ihsanullah, were traveling to work on a motorcycle when three unidentified armed men opened fire at them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2016.