Unidentified gunmen killed the brother of rebel cleric Mullah Fazlullah’s spokesman Sirajuddin in Imam Dheri late on Sunday night, sources said. Bakht Bedar Khan’s body was found in the morning. Residents said Khan was a leader of the Awami National Party (ANP). Ghafoor, another brother of the deceased, told Daily Times that he was in Peshawar when his family told him via telephone that “military officials” had arrested Khan. Ghafoor said his family had told him eight men wearing military uniform barged into their house, locked them up in a room, and took Khan away. The family thought security officials had held him for “routine investigation”, Ghafoor said. “I contacted the Circuit House in Swat but military officials said they did not conduct any such operation,” he said. “Police in Kanjoo also said they had not arrested him.”
His body was found near the house in the morning, he said. Local residents said Khan supported the government’s peace initiative and distanced himself from Sirajuddin’s activities. “I think his killing is a message for all those who oppose the Taliban, [they will not be spared] even if they are relatives of Taliban commanders,” said a local resident.
Protest: Around 800 people from various villages staged a protest demonstration, carrying KhanÂ’s body at Kanjoo Chowk. They blocked the road for more than two hours. Addressing the protestors, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and ANP candidates for the provincial assembly, Feroz Shah and Dr Shamsher Ali, condemned the killing and demanded the killersÂ’ arrest. They said the government was seeking cooperation from the local people, but could not provide them security. The protestors dispersed after elders held talks with military officials at the Saidu Sharif Airport. Khan was later buried in Imam Dheri.
Talking to Daily Times, Mingora Media Information Centre in-charge Colonel Nadeem said the incident was regretful. He said the military would enhance patrol and increase the number of checkposts in the area.
Three children were injured in security forcesÂ’ artillery fire on suspected Taliban hideouts in the Dewlai and Totano Bandai areas in Swat on Monday. Officials did not confirm the civilian casualties. Sources said the shelling followed intelligence reports that important militant commanders were holding a secret meeting at a house. Locals said six houses were partially damaged and three children were injured. There were no reports of militant casualties when this report was filed.