Unabated violence: Village defence committee member gunned down

Bakht Zareen Jan was killed in one of the main markets of Tahirabad.

MINGORA: Another village defence committee member was shot dead in Tahirabad area of Mingora on Saturday, a day after lawmakers castigated the government over the recent spike in target killings in Swat.

According to Mingora police, unidentified assailants opened fire at Bakht Zareen Jan in one of the main markets of the area, killing him on the spot.

After the incident, security forces and police started a door-to-door search operation in Tahirabad, Yousafabad and Ingaro Dherai to trace the culprits.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have beefed up security in Mingora after they received information of four suspected militants entering the city. Security forces have been put on high alert and security has been tightened at all major checkpoints and entry points to the city.

Insiders have revealed that the terrorists are reportedly well-trained and plan to orchestrate target killings on VDC members and political leaders in Swat.

On November 12, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Faisal Hayat Chattan was murdered in Qambar area of Swat. Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Members of village defence committees continue to be targeted with impunity in Swat. Residents of the district have pressed the law enforcement agencies to take immediate action against those behind these killings. During the proceedings of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Friday, lawmakers condemned the recent spate of violence and raised concern over the murder of tribal elders and political workers in Swat. Lawmakers urged the government to adopt a serious approach to the matter and stem militancy.

However, law enforcement agencies have failed to arrest a single target killer to date for any of the murders. Nearly 24 peace committee members have been killed since 2009. Out of these, 18 VDC members have been killed in 2014.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2014.