Karkhano Market attack: SHO’s assailants intended to target NATO containers, says report

Initial investigation reveals eight militants arrived on four motorcycles.

PESHAWAR: Initial investigation into the killing of Hayatabad SHO Mira Jan revealed the militants were targeting containers supplying goods to Nato troops in Afghanistan.

Jan was gunned down while escorting a convoy of Nato supplies in Kharkhano Market on Wednesday. Four others, including Jan’s guard and driver, were injured in the incident, while the attackers managed to flee.

On Thursday, the initial investigation report stated around eight militants on four motorcycles came from Jamrud tehsil, Khyber Agency near Kharkhano check post to attack the vehicles carrying Nato supplies.

The report added the unidentified militants blocked the road leading towards Khyber Agency. When gunman Sajjad stepped out of the SHO’s vehicle to clear the road, the assailants surrounded the car and sprayed it with bullets using AK-47 rifles, it said.

Jan died on the spot, while the injured were shifted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex. According to the report, one of the militants was also injured after Sajjad returned fire. However, all the culprits managed to escape towards Regi on the outskirts of Peshawar.

A search operation is currently underway to apprehend the perpetrators.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2013.