Video clip shows TTP road patrols

Militants can be seen checking vehicles in daytime

DI KHAN:

Yet another video has surfaced from the troubled Tank district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in which TTP operatives are shown checking vehicles along the main road, putting a big question mark on the writ of the government and police.

Various factions of the banned TTP have established a firm foothold in the southern districts of the province, with relevant authorities apparently looking the other way.

Local resident told The Express Tribune that in the Pathankot area armed TTP men established blockades along the main road in broad daylight, stopped vehicles and searched for government servants.

They themselves filmed a video of the entire episode and then released it on social media platforms.

It is worth mentioning here that these patrols and blockades were previously carried out at night, but it is for the first time that the armed Taliban conducted them during the daytime.

Last month a video of the banned TTP fighters made rounds on social media platforms in which terrorists could be seen checking the CNICs of passengers.

Apparently they set up a checkpoint along the main road in the Karak district and started checking passengers in order to distinguish government servants from civilians.

The video was, in all likelihood, made by TTP operatives themselves and then uploaded on social media to show the general public their performance. This has caused widespread panic among the general public.

According to the local police, the incident occurred two months ago, while local residents claim it took place on May 14. The incident happened within the jurisdiction of the Latambar police station in Karak district.

It may be noted that similar situations have previously occurred in South Waziristan. This incident is further proof that militants have established a firm foothold in the area, despite the law enforcement agencies’ tall claims of maintaining control.

Separately, in Miranshah, North Waziristan, a rocket attack on a vehicle left three individuals dead. They included a pro-government militant commander Gulap Hassan Khel and two of his associates.

According to police, unidentified terrorists targeted a vehicle with RPG-7 in the Hyder Khel area of Mir Ali tehsil in North Waziristan, resulting in a fire that engulfed the vehicle.

Police said three people were in the vehicle. Two of them were killed in the fire, while the third person was abducted by the attackers and later found dead near Mullagan village.

Sources say that Commander Gulab Hassan Khel, who was supported by the government, and his two companions, were among those killed in the attack.