September 22, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 09, 1428

SWAT, Sept 21: Two people were killed and three others, including former federal minister and central leader of Awami National Party Mohammad Afzal Khan, suffered injuries when they were attacked by some people near Bedara village on Friday.

The ANP leader was going to his village Dreshkhela in a car with his nephew Nazim Matta tehsil Abdul Jabbar Khan and a guard when his car came under fire, witnesses and officials said.

Driver Sher Alam and passerby Mohammad Khaliq were killed on the spot, while Mr Afzal Khan, Mr Abdul Jabbar and gunman Bakht Rawan received injuries.

Mr Afzal Khan was rushed to the Matta Hospital from where he was shifted to the Saidu Sharif Hospital. He received bullet wounds on the arm and his condition was said to be stable. Mr Abdul Jabbar’s condition was stated to be critical, doctors said.

Police have registered an FIR at the Matta Police Station against the unidentified assailants.

Mr Afzal Khan had been receiving threats from local militants based in Swat District to mend his ways for being averse to militancy, family sources said.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of involvement of militants in the incident as Afzal Khan had no enmity with anyone,” said police officer.

OFFICIAL KILLED: A forest department official was killed by unidentified persons near his residence on Thursday night at Shakardara.

Witnesses said that Talemand Khan was heading home from a nearby mosque when the attackers sprayed him with bullets. An FIR was registered at the Matta police station against the unidentified miscreants.