... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
. The politician was bumped off along with an associate while leaving his vehicle. As of now the motives behind Mr Khan's murder are not clear. Though he was elected as an independent and later joined the PTI, Fareed Khan was also said to have links with sectarian outfit Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat
...which is the false nose and plastic mustache of the murderous
bannedextremist group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain, whatcha might call the
political wingof Lashkar-e-Jhangvi...
. Hence there may be a sectarian angle to the killing as communal violence is not uncommon in Hangu. But it has also been reported that the slain politician had been receiving threats from a TTP faction and a local leader of the myrmidon outfit has been nabbed
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
in connection with the murder. While only a proper investigation can uncover the motive behind the killing, the MPA's murder highlights the considerable task of maintaining law and order in KP.
In essence the honeymoon is over for the PTI-led provincial government as it now faces the stark reality of tackling militancy. While the ANP has borne the brunt of the myrmidons' bloody campaign over the past few years, the hard boyz are not averse to targeting individuals with similar ideology. In the past
Maulana Fazlur RehmanDeobandi holy man, known as
Mullah Dieselduring the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
has escaped liquidation attempts while in May Death Eaters bombed an election meeting of JUI-F candidate Muneer Orakzai in Kurram. Militancy is a complex phenomenon and simply stating that dialogue with the snuffies will end the violence is naïve. The MPA's murder should serve as a wake-up call to the PTI and other parties who believe the Death Eaters can be won over simply by inviting them to the negotiating table. The reality of tackling the myrmidon threat is much more complicated.