PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The chief of a peace committee of Mohmand Agency was killed and another elder received bullet injuries in an attack outside a mosque here on Thursday.

Sources said that Malik Mohammad Salam Khan, the chief of anti-Taliban volunteers of Tarkzo area in Mohmand Agency, had come to Tablighee Markaz in Peshawar along with Shah Wali Khan, a tribal elder of Khyber Agency.

They said that militants attacked both the tribal elders with sophisticated weapons. “They were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in injured condition,” said Aruj Shiraz, the spokesman for Rescue 1122. He said that the head of peace body succumbed to his injuries in the hospital while the other elder was in critical condition.

He said that the deceased sustained multiple injuries on head, abdomen and other parts of his body. A hospital source said that Shah Wali Khan had also undergone surgery and was in critical condition.

Officials of Michini Gate police station declined to give details about the incident. The incident occurred after Maghrib prayer, they said. “Police have moved to the area and efforts are underway to arrest the assailants,” they said.

Sources said that the attackers were riding motorbikes. They fired at the tribal elders and disappeared, they added.

Malik Salam Khan, 60, was a known pro-government elder of Tarkzo village in Yaka Ghund area of Mohmand Agency. He had raised an armed lashkar against militants. He had survived several attempts on his life in the past.

It is to be mentioned here that Malik Salam is the sixth elder and head of a peace body falling prey to militants' attack in Peshawar.

Earlier, Malik Fazal Manan, Malik Mukhtiar, Malik Lal Badshah and two real brothers Subedar and Dildar had been killed in Peshawar last year.

Meanwhile, Mohmand Taliban spokesman Sajjad Mohmand claimed responsibility for killing of Salam Khan.

He told journalists by phone that the deceased had always opposed Taliban. “He did not stop facilitating officials of political administration and security forces despite several warnings,” he said. He threatened that Taliban would continue to attacks their opponents if they didn't stop their activities.

By Ali Hazrat Bacha

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