Separate incidents: Three killed over land dispute in Jamrud

Khasadar officials thwart kidnapping attempt, arrest culprits.

KHAR/ JAMRUD: Three people of a family were killed over a land dispute between two groups in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency on Sunday.  A gang of kidnappers was arrested in a separate incident. 

Asmatullah Wazir, an official of the political administration, said Ashraf Khan and Mandal Khan groups in Husai Khula had a long-standing dispute over a piece of land. He added members of both groups take shots at each other regularly.

Wazir added a jirga was convened on Friday to settle their dispute, however, both groups argued. On Sunday, Mandal Khan’s group opened fire at their rivals, killing Ashraf and his son Aftab as well as severely injuring Fazal Dad. Dad succumbed to his injuries en route to a hospital.

The accused escaped after the incident. Political administration filed a case against Mandal Khan’s group.

Kidnappers caught

A gang of alleged kidnappers was arrested and their prisoner recovered in Jamrud tehsil.

According to Wazir, Niaz Muhammad had recently returned from Kuwait, and was on his way home on Sunday when the gang intercepted him and bundled him in a car.

Other tribesmen informed khasadar officials, who set up checkpoints and stopped a suspicious car at Bigyari check post. They recovered Niaz and arrested five kidnappers.

A case was filed against the accused and further investigation is under way.

Motorbike ban

Meanwhile, in Khar, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) organised a rally against the ban on riding motorbikes in the Bajaur Agency.

JI leader Qari Abdul Majeed led the protest, and held the political administration and the governor responsible for the ban.

The leader claimed security forces had lifted the ban but on the advice of political leaders, the political administration was not lifting it. He demanded the prohibition be discontinued immediately.

Motorbike Association President Rahmanuddin said there was no ban on riding motorbikes in the rest of the country and there should be none in Bajaur because it has become an economic sanction.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2013.