WANA (South Wazirsitan), July 22: Chief of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe Mir Zalam Khan along with his two brothers and a nephew were killed, while his son suffered bullet injuries in an attack near Wana in the South Waziristan agency on Friday. Sources said that the assailants targeted a double cabin pick-up, carrying the tribal chief and members of his family, near the Army Brigade headquarters in the Zari Noor Colony at about 10am.
Mir Zalam Khan, 65, was considered a staunch supporter of the government in the ongoing military operation against militants in the restive South Waziristan Agency.
Recently, militants distributed a list of 30 tribal elders and officials in the neighbouring North Waziristan Agency, warning them to withdraw support from the government or face consequences.
Officials said that the tribal chief along with family members was on way to Wana from Azam Warsak when unidentified persons, chasing his vehicle, opened fire with assault rifle in the Zari Noor Colony.
“Masked men opened fire on his vehicle from a close range and sped away in a single cabin pick-up,” a witness said.
Mir Zalam Khan, his brothers Feroz Khan, Saeedullah Jan and nephew Ibrahim Khan succumbed to injuries on the spot, while his young son Mohammad Tariq suffered bullet wounds. He was rushed to a hospital in Wana, the agency’s headquarters.
Sources said that apparently Mir Zalam had no family feud, but his opposition to militant activities might be the major motive behind his murder.
