Chief of Lashkar shot dead

Published December 15, 2008

MINGORA, Dec 14: Pir Samiullah, a declared opponent of the Taliban, and his eight followers were killed in a gunbattle in Swat on Saturday night, it was reported on Sunday. Twenty-two other followers of the Pir were captured by the Taliban.

Pir Samiullah of Mandal Dag was the first notable of the region to take on the Taliban and to form a tribal Lashkar to expel the militants from the valley.

Sources said Pir Samiullah was laid to rest in his native Charma town, a mountainous area of Matta tehsil, on Sunday.

The gunbattle started on Saturday morning when the militants entered Mandal Dag and torched the house and hujra of the Pir. The militants also torched residence and a hujra of the Pir after taking control of Mandal Dag area on Saturday morning. They also set on fire houses of 15 elders.

At least eight supporters of the Pir were killed and several others injured in the clash. A Taliban spokesman claimed that no militant had been killed in the clash.

Muslim Khan said his men launched a search operation in Mandal Dag and adjoining areas and seized 50 Kalashnikovs, two rockets and 15 rifles of various bores.

The Taliban, according to sources, are now in control of about 80 per cent of Swat and the government’s writ is confined to areas around Mingora.

Clashes between Taliban and Pir Samiullah started about two months ago when the militants tried to kidnap the Pir.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.