MARDAN: A tehsil councillor of the PTI and three workers of the ANP were killed in an armed clash between members of the two rival political parties in the Khan Kotay area on Friday.

Witnesses and police officials said that supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Awami National Party exchanged gunfire after a dispute over hoisting of a PTI flag turned violent during a PTI rally in the area.

As a result of the firing, PTI tehsil councillor Mohmand Khan and ANP workers Ikram Babukheil, Qasim and Shah Jehan were killed.

A political rivalry was reported to be going on between the slain PTI tehsil councillor Mohmand Khan and Awami National Party district councillor Sardar Khan since the holding of local government elections in May last year.

Area people said that both leaders of the rival political parties belonged to Khan Kotay area.

The Hoti police have registered FIRs from both sides and are investigating.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2016