Violence round-up: Five injured as jirga turns into brawl

Residence of administration official targeted in bomb attack in lower Kurram.

DI KHAN/ SADDA: Five tribesmen were injured when a brawl broke out between two groups during a jirga near Wana bazaar in South Waziristan Agency on Wednesday.

A political administration official said the jirga was poring over a property dispute between the two sub-tribes of the local Zalikhel tribe. He added that the jirga was held under the supervision of members of the Malang group led by Taliban leader Mullah Nazir.

According to him, the violence was triggered by an argument between Malang members and tribesman from the Adakhel sub-tribe. Both sides started pelting stones at each other and later resorted to gunfire.

The five men injured were shifted to Agency Headquarters Hospital, Wana, and other local clinics.

Meanwhile, the residence of a political administration official, Saleem Khan, was targeted in a bomb attack carried out by unidentified militants at Lower Kurram Agency’s headquarters, Sadda, on Wednesday.

According to an administration official, the remotely-detonated explosion occurred around 12:30am and was caused by a low-intensity bomb placed near the boundary wall of Khan’s residence. The gate was destroyed along with part of the wall.

He added a heavy contingent of Khasadar officials rushed to the scene and surrounded the area soon after.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2014.