MINGORA/KHAR: Two peace volunteers have been shot dead in Swat and Bajaur Agency.

Ayub Khan, a member of a local peace committee, was going home in Mangaltan area near Charbagh in Swat district on Saturday when he came under fire. He died on the spot. The other incident took place in Billot area in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur agency on Friday night.

Officials and locals said Said Kareem Khan, a member of a peace committee, was on his way to a checkpost set up by the committee when he was attacked by unidentified gunmen. He was critically injured and died before receiving first aid.

Area people and members of the peace committee reached the scene of the attack and searched for the assailants but without success.

No one claimed responsibility for the assault. According to local people, Kareem Khan had no enmity with anyone and was associated with the committee for the past three years.

Later, Bajaur Levies launched an operation in the region to look for the assailants. Several people were taken into custody for interrogation.

However, local people said those rounded up were innocent. According to the local administration, attacks by militants on pro-government tribal elders and members of peace committees had increased over the past few months.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2014