Da’ish suspected in policeman’s murder

PESHAWAR: A policeman, who was gunned down last week in the Khazana area of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) provincial capital, is believed to be killed by terrorists allegedly belonging to the middle-eastern ultra-orthodox terror group Islamic State (IS), also known as Da’ish.

Three unidentified motorcyclists gunned down Zarnosh Khan on January 3 using 9mm pistols. The cop, deputed at the Daudzai police station, was shot dead outside his house in Wahid Ghari neighbourhood at around 7am. “There is solid evidence that the January 3 targeted killing of Zarnosh was done by the IS,” a police official told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

He said investigation into the case has revealed that the international terror outfit is involved in the killing. He claimed that the IS has reared its ugly head in the district.

“However, there is now solid evidence that some of the militants who were previously affiliated with Afghan Taliban have now pledged allegiance to the IS and they are now actively involved in targeted killings,” he added. “This is most worrying for us as these people were considered peaceful with no interest in militancy in Pakistan. These good guys have apparently turned into bad guys and what is even more worrisome is that they can escape to Afghanistan freely once committing a crime locally,” he added.

He said Khazana is the hub of militant activities as last year 42 cases of extortion were recorded from the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2017.