January 26, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 16, 1429

KHAR, Jan 25: A pro-government tribal elder and a retired official of the Bajaur Levies were killed in separate incidents in Nawagai and Khar, respectively, on Friday.

The tribal elder, Malik Maulana Mursaleen Khan, was going to his marble factory on foot when a bomb planted on a road was set off by remote-control at 10am, killing him on the spot.

No individual or group has accepted responsibility for the killing. However, the tribal elder was supportive of the political administration and had backed government’s actions in Bajaur on different occasions. He had no enmity with anybody and local people said it might be target killing by militants. The political administration of Bajaur Agency has registered a case.

The retired official of the Bajaur Levies, Maamur Khan, was shot dead by some people in Khar.

According to the political administration, two militants riding a motorbike had opened fire on the official while he was going to a mosque for Friday prayers in a passenger vehicle, injuring him. He was taken to the agency headquarters hospital where he died.

The political administration has registered a case.

Meanwhile, some people attacked a Bajaur Scouts camp near Nawagai with rockets, missiles and other heavy weapons early Friday morning. Several rockets landed near a checkpost.

Personnel of the Bajaur Levies retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for several hours. One of the shells hit the house of a local tribesman, Saz Gul, killing his wife.