Targeted: Three of a family killed in firing

Initial investigation reveals family was targeted by a banned militant organisation.

KOHAT: Three members of a family were killed and two others were injured when unidentified militants opened fire at their vehicle in Usterzai, Kohat on Sunday.

According to Usterzai police official Gul Janan, the incident occurred at Zyera Road around 11:30am.

Janan said a family travelling in a pickup was heading to Khyber Agency from Kohat when the militants ambushed the vehicle. Five people were injured in the ensuing firing, said Janan.

The official added locals rushed the injured to Kohat Divisional Hospital where three succumbed to their injuries. The remaining two were referred to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

Janan said the deceased were identified as Hassan Khel, Shiraz Khan and Hameed Khan, while the injured were Khwaja Gula Bibi and Noor Zamin Khan.

Officials of the elite force, along with heavy contingents of the police, rushed to the site and launched a search operation, added the police official. However, no arrests had been made till the filing of this report.

According to the police, the targeted family belonged to Bara, Khyber Agency and initial investigation revealed they were targeted by a banned militant organisation from Bara.

Police has filed a case and further investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Sunday by the chief minister’s (CM) office, CM Pervez Khattak condemned the firing and asked the police and political administration “to take action forthwith”.

Such bloody incidents, especially during Ramazan, will not be tolerated, the statement quoted the CM as saying. The police should take adequate steps to let people observe Ramazan with the knowledge that their lives and properties are safe, it added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2014.