MINGORA: Women rights activist and founder of the first female jirga, Tabassum Adnan, claimed to have survived in an armed attack conducted by unidentified people late on Thursday night, and has demanded of the government to trace and arrest the culprits.

She said that some unidentified assailants starting firing in the midnight on which her police guard responded and after sometime the attackers fled.

Tabassum Adnan told media persons that it was midnight that some assailants opened indiscriminate fire on her house.

“The firing continued for some time and many of the bullets hit my room’s windows and door, however I survived in the incident when my police guard responded immediately and the assailants fled,” she said.

Ms Tabassum said that she was receiving threats from unknown people since long. “I have already filed an FIR in Saidu Sharif police station after I received threats earlier. I will continue my work for women rights as such actions can never stop me from my cause,” she said.

A police official in Saidu Sharif police station said that police filed an FIR and had started investigation.

Ms Tabassum is the founder of first female Jirga known as Khwendo Jirga which works for women rights. She is the recipient of several national and international awards.

Meanwhile, the CTD police claimed to have arrested a key militant identified as Saeedur Rehman, a resident of Shawar, in Matta tehsil. The police said that he was allegedly involved in anti-state activities during the Swat mayhem.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2017