Violent rumblings: Two killed in Mohmand, Bajaur tribal districts

Locals kill two assailants who gunned down ANP leader

SHABQADAR: A local political leader and the nephew of a pro-government tribal elder were killed in two separate attacks in the tribal districts of Mohmand and Bajaur respectively on Thursday. However, locals gunned down the suspected attackers in Mohmand.

Awami National Party (ANP) Sagi Chapter President Sher Rehman was gunned down by two unidentified, armed assailants in Sagi area of Mohmand tribal district on Thursday. The two men attempted to flee after killing Rehman but were pursued by a local ‘chasing party (Chaga). The chasing party managed to kill the two assailants.

Later, officials of the district administration reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

The bodies of two attackers, believed to be hired guns, were taken into custody by the authorities and moved to a morgue. Their identities could not be established until the filing of this report.

Rehman, who officials believe was killed owing to personal enmity, is expected to be buried on Friday. In the Kohi Salarzai area of Bajaur, locals found the body of 22-year-old Tariq Khan.

Tariq, the nephew of local tribal elder Nawaz Khan, had been allegedly abducted from his home on Wednesday evening by unidentified people at gunpoint.  Local and district administration officials, though, are unsure what precipitated Tariq’s abduction and murder, stating that an investigation into the matter is still underway. The incident, though, has sparked a wave of fear amongst locals.

Last week, a levies official, who was guarding polio vaccinators, had been gunned down by unidentified armed men in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2018.