Chief of Waziristan’s guard opened retaliatory fire, killing one of the attackers. PHOTO: FILE
Gunmen shot dead a pro-government tribal elder, Chief of Waziristan Malik Qadir Khan, and two others on Thursday in a drive-by shooting in the Chashma Pul area, five kilometres south of Miranshah.
“Malik Qadir Khan was travelling to his village when four gunmen riding a car opened fire on his vehicle killing him and two others,” a local administration official said on the condition of anonymity.
He said Khan’s guard opened retaliatory fire, killing one of the attackers before fleeing.
A local intelligence official confirmed the attack.
The latest attack comes two weeks after the Pakistani Taliban formally ended a ceasefire called to promote peace talks.
On April 16, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said it would not extend a ceasefire it began on March 1 as part of peace talks with the government aimed at ending the militants’ bloody seven-year insurgency.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government began negotiations with TTP through intermediaries in February to try to bring peace.
Since 2007, more than 6,800 people have been killed in bomb and gun attacks conducted by the TTP, according to an AFP tally.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2014.
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