Spectre of violence: Post-poll clashes leave 11 dead in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Winning candidate’s celebratory rally attacked in Tank.

KOHAT/ DI KHAN: Even 48 hours after local government polls closed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the spectre of post-election violence continued to haunt the province on Monday – claiming at least 11 more lives.

Violent clashes, mismanagement and inadequate security measures had already marred the May 30 elections.

Eleven people lost their lives and around 62 were injured across K-P in election-related scuffles and shootings.

Late Sunday night, eight more people were killed and another two suffered injuries when two rival groups opened fire at each other in the Tank district. The incident took place in Kari Haider located about 20km north of Tank City during a celebration gathering called by a winning candidate, police said.

A Saddar police official told The Express Tribune that independent candidate Wali Khan had arranged a celebration with Attan performance. During the programme, a clash broke out between two rival groups. Members from both sides exchanged gunfire and hurled grenades at each other, killing six guests and one man from each group.



The victims were shifted to Tank district teaching hospital. The deceased were identified as Muntazer Bittanim, Amdadullah, Nasibullah, Fakhar Alam, Musa Khan, Muhammad Shaban, Muhammad Shoaib and Khanza Allah.

The police officer said the Muntazer and Mullah Khan groups had a longstanding land dispute and had often fought in the past. Cases have been registered against both the groups at the Saddar police station in Tank.

Three more killed

At least three people were killed and five others injured when unidentified attackers opened fire inside the guest room of a winning candidate in Gumbat, Kohat.

Police claimed that Zabeehullah, who won the local bodies elections in his area, was present in his guestroom along with a large number of his well-wishers when the assailants came inside and fired a volley of bullets. At least three people died on the spot, including a brother of Zabeehullah, while five injured victims, including a child, were shifted to hospital.

Roadside blast

A bomb attack near Hethala on DI Khan-Tank Road injured nine people. Kulachi police said the bomb planted by the roadside targeted the pir of Atal Sharif, Pir Muhammad Hussain, who was passing through the area in his car along with his son, Pir Ghaus. The vehicle was damaged in the blast and the father and son were shifted to the Kulachi hospital.

The passersby injured by the explosion were identified as Ayna Bibi, Shikwa Bibi, Ansarul Haq, Khairul Haq, Mahmood ul Hassan, Sabar Alahi and Muhammad Hussain.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2015.