Dispute over digging grave for one in Charsadda ends in five funerals

SHABQADAR: At least four people were killed while another was injured when two groups traded fire following a dispute over a graveyard in Charsadda.

A Mandani Tangi Police station official stated that on Tuesday a village Nazim from the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Raheemullah, passed away following an accident on Monday.

His relatives were digging a grave for him in the graveyard when their opponents approached them and asked them to stop, claiming that the land they were digging in was their property.



Even though the two groups hailed from the same tribal village, they exchanged harsh words. It escalated to the point that the two groups opened fire on each other. In the ensuing exchange of fire, at least three people were killed including Maaz Ullah, Muhammad Ishaq and Zeeshan. They were all relatives of Raheemullah

On the other side, a local ANP leader also fell victim to the crossfire. His brother, Ibrahim Khan, was severely injured and had to be shifted to hospital.

The bodies were shifted for post-mortem.

While police confirmed the incident had taken place, they have yet to register a first information report till the filing of this report. Officials, however, said that an investigation is underway.



In another incident a pro-government tribal elder in Bajaur came under attack from an improvised explosive device (IED) which had been planted by the side of the road.

The agency administration in Khar confirmed that pro-government tribal militia member Malak Amanullah was travelling through Charmang in Bajaur on Tuesday afternoon when his car was attacked with a roadside bomb.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2018.