Targeted attack: Two former peace militia members killed

Former head of militia says committee no longer active and several of its members have been killed in the past.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

Two former peace militia members were killed in Kari Haider Khel, Tank on Tuesday, said a police official at Shaheed Murid Akbar police station.

At around 9:30am, unidentified armed men opened fire at Din Muhammad and Akhe Jan who were on a motorcycle, killing them on the spot. Both men belonged to the Bhittani tribe.



An FIR was registered by deceased Din Muhammad’s uncle, Mir Zali Khan Bhittani.

Bhittani Taliban, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the former peace committee members were on their hit-list and they will continue to target all such people.



Gul Salam Bhittani, former head of the peace committee, confirmed that the deceased were members of his militia, adding that they once had a strong hold in the area but since the government withdrew its support, they have dispersed and become a soft target for the Taliban.

He said the committee is no longer active and several of its members have been killed in the past.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2013.