Attempted kidnapping: Father, son among three killed

PESHAWAR:

Three people, including a father and son, were killed by armed men during an attempted kidnapping in Masho Khel village on the city’s outskirts Sunday night.

Around two dozen armed men, some dressed as security officials, entered Malik Sharafat’s house and told the family they were security officials conducting an operation. They tried to get the residents to leave with them at gunpoint, however, some family members resisted. In the ensuing clash, Amjad Khan, an employee of Town 4, Shafarat and his son Sajid were shot dead. Three men luckily managed to escape, which included Khan’s father Tawas, who was injured, and Riwayat and Kashif.

After the incident, the armed men escaped to the adjacent Akka Khel area of Khyber Agency.

In the morning, residents learned of the plight of the ill-fated family and found the three missing family members hiding in nearby sugarcane fields.

“Three or four members of the attacking party, in security officials’ uniforms, entered the house while the rest of them waited outside,” said an official of the local police station while talking to The Express Tribune.

He said when the family members were being taken outside the house, probably on their way to Akka Khel, they discovered the kidnappers were not security officials and refused to go, after which some were shot while the rest fled. “Three of the hostages were able to escape due to the darkness and proximity of the sugarcane fields,” he said, adding the family is not involved in anything illegal and has nothing to do with police or militants. The official, however, said the most likely reason for their targeting could have to do with a distant relative, Israr Ali, who was the head of the Masho Khel peace militia.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2014.