A political administration official of Khar confirmed the explosive device was placed by the roadside and detonated when the vehicle reached Ghakhi. As a result, tribal chief Malak Taj Muhammad Ali Khan, his driver and two guards suffered injuries. Two passers-by were also wounded. The victims were shifted to Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khar, where the medical staff said all of them were out of danger.
The political administration of Bajaur Agency cordoned off the area and launched a search operation; however, no arrests were made till the filing of this report. No group or individual has claimed responsibility thus far.
Bajaur Agency shares a border with Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar. Attacks on pro-Pakistan government tribal chiefs and leaders of qaumi lashkars started occurring with alarming regularity in the recent past. On September 28, 2014, a leader of the Salarzai Qaumi Lashkar, Gul Akbar, was assassinated allegedly by the Taliban in Darra village, while many others were targeted in IED blasts.
Also, a polio worker and two of his relatives were killed in an IED blast on Wednesday in Alingar area of Safi Tehsil, Mohmand Agency, which borders Bajaur.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2014.
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