Peace militia chief, three aides killed – possibly by Taliban

Bazid Khel militia and his three aides went missing three days ago.

PESHAWAR:

The chief of a pro-government tribal militia and his three lieutenants were found dead in an SUV in Peshawar on Wednesday in what appears to be a Taliban payback.

The government encouraged tribesmen living on the outskirts of the provincial capital and neighbouring tribal regions to form private militias to aid its counter-militancy efforts.

However, the militias have invited the wrath of Taliban insurgents who have killed dozens of volunteers and chieftains of these legions, paradoxically called Aman (peace) Lashkars.

On Wednesday morning, the bodies of Fahimur Rehman, who headed the Bazid Khel militia, and his three aides were found dumped in a Land Cruiser jeep on Dalazak Road in Peshawar.

Three days ago, Rehman left his residence for Tandyani, Abbotabad, in his Land Cruiser jeep, along with his relative Haji Niaz Muhammad and close friends Rahim and Altaf Bacha, escorted by two police commandos.

The four, however, were found dead in the jeep in the jurisdiction of the Pahari Pura police station early in the morning, SP Rural Shafiullah said. “All of them were shot dead.”

The family kept his disappearance secret because they suspected Rehman had been arrested by the police, according to Mukamal Shah, the spokesperson for Tappa Muhammad Peace Committee.

Rumour has it that the two police commandos escorting Rehman and his aides are still missing – possibly in the custody of militants. SP Shafiullah, however, refused to comment on the matter.

“Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants are involved (in the killings),” said Haji Shaukat, Rehman’s uncle.

Rehman rose to prominence in 2009 when nine Lashker-e-Islam (LI) militants were killed while attempting to kidnap him in Bazid Khel village on the outskirts of Peshawar. He was a union council nazim at time.

The head of Adezai peace militia, Dilawar Khan, denounced the killings and vowed revenge. “We are ready for any sacrifices to eliminate militancy from the region,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2012.