Taliban leader killed in firefight with police

Intelligence agencies had information about the whereabouts of Nasib Zada.

BUNER: A key Taliban commander and his two companions were killed in crossfire while crossing the Elum Valley from Buner to Swat. They were identified as Nasib Zada, Gul Nazir and Wazir Mohammad and were wanted by security forces in several acts of terrorism. Nasib Zada had a bounty of Rs500,000 on his head while the other two carried Rs250,000 each.

SHO Peer Baba police station Habibur Rahman announced Zada’s death thus: “The commander who had initiated militancy in Buner and set it ablaze, and was a symbol of danger to the locals, has at last been killed.”

He said that intelligence agencies had information on his whereabouts. “We were on high alert and as soon as we sensed him coming, we opened fire and killed him along with his two companions.”

Three AK-47 rifles, seven hand-grenades, a first aid kit and a large amount of ammunition were recovered from their possession. The bodies were taken to different areas in Buner where a large number of people rushed to see them.

DCO Buner has announced through local newspapers that after the killing of Nasib Zada and his companions, no curfew will be imposed in the district except in the Elum hill area. He also lifted the ban prohibiting the sowing of maize crops provided clearance papers were obtained.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2010.