PESHAWAR: Three ... armed clashes occurred during the last 24 hours [Jan 19-20] in the NWFP at Malakand, Jamrud (Khyber agency) and Takhtbai industries in Mardan, in which at least eight persons were killed and over 38 persons injured... . The worst clash occurred at Jamrud between two parties of armed Afridi tribesmen... . According to information available, a truck brought bags of wheat flour for distribution at Jamrud. Hardly had the distribution taken place when two parties of tribesmen quarrelled over the share-out. They started indiscriminate firing upon each other. The firing lasted over half an hour. Five persons belonging to both parties were killed and five others were reportedly injured seriously.

… The second clash occurred at Takhtbai in the Yousufzai Industries (Mardan) between workers of the mill and the Police. … [F]our workers were killed and over 30 injured including some policemen. … The third clash at Amandara (Malakand) occurred between students ... who made an attempt to gherao the helicopter, which was to carry Governor Sherpao ... to Peshawar... . The students ... pelted stones at the helicopter and continued to demonstrate even after [it] had left. … [A]s a result an armed clash occurred... .

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2022