One killed in violence at Jalozai camp

An unidentified man fired at IDPs at a hygiene kit distribution point, according to officials.

PESHAWAR:

One person was killed after violence erupted at the Jalozai camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Wednesday.

A large number of IDPs had gathered at a UNICEF distribution point in order to collect the hygiene kits containing toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, towels and razors, when the situation went out of control. There were several Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) security guards present, but the IDPs broke queues, rushing to the distribution point.

During the commotion, an unidentified man opened fire severely injuring Aslam Gul, 25, and Sofia Bibi. Both were rushed to the hospital. Gul, who belongs to the Akakhel sub-tribe of the Afridi tribe, died on the way to the hospital, police official Hafiz Abdul Malik told The Express Tribune.

When contacted, the PDMA provincial spokesperson said PDMA Director General Shehzad Khan Bangash had taken notice of the incident at Jalozai camp and ordered an internal inquiry into the matter.

Later, local leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) tried to politicise the incident by bringing Gul’s remains to the Peshawar Press Club. The protesters alleged that PDMA security guards had opened fire on the IDPs while they were receiving bags of food items. Authorities, however, have denied the allegations.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2012.