Sectarian violence: ANP VP from PK-2 gunned down

Family, friends of deceased take to the streets

PESHAWAR: Imdad Hussain Jafari, vice president of Awami National Party in PK-2, Ganj Ward in Peshawar, was shot dead on Thursday afternoon by unidentified men in Tedi Gate area within the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station. This is believed to be triggered by sectarian violence.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an official of Yakatoot police station said both attackers had managed to escape after committing the crime.

He added one of the officials was carrying a TT pistol and the other had a 9-mm pistol. “Imdad Hussain was in Tedi Gate for some urgent work when he was targeted,” the official said.

Later, Jafari’s family members and friends protested against the incident. Former information minister and Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain led the protest. They placed the body of the deceased on Circular Road in the area and blocked it for traffic.

The demonstrators condemned various incidents of target killing. They also shouted slogans against the government and police officials and demanded the arrest of Jafari’s murderers.

The protest started at around noon and went on for about six hours. It ended following negotiations with SSP Operations Dr Mian Saeed. The SSP assured Mian Iftikhar and the protesters the culprits will be arrested. “The counter-terrorism department and the police are working diligently to curb target killings that are not just limited to members of the Shia community. We have arrested many militants and assailants in the past and will put Jafari’s murderers behind bars,” Iftikhar said.

Jafari was once among Pakistan Peoples Party’s diehard activists. After the 2008 general polls, he  decided to part ways with the party. He joined ANP and backed the latter’s candidates in 2013 general polls.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^th, 2015.