LAKKI MARWAT: Highwaymen killed another truck driver in Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat district on Saturday night within a short span of one month.

Police said the incident took place near Pezu dam in the mountainous terrain of the town on busy Peshawar-Karachi highway.

Abdul Manan, a resident of North Waziristan, told police he along with driver, Shahjee Khan was on way to DI Khan in a dumper truck after unloading coal in Kohat.

“When we reached near Pezu dam, a group armed men were engaged in looting public and goods transport vehicles,” he claimed.

He said over one and a half dozen armed men came to their truck, ordered them to step out and looted Rs18,000 from him. “One of the armed men opened fire on Shahjee when he offered resistance, killing him on the spot,” he added.

A party of Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station rushed to the crime scene and shifted the body to the District Headquarters Hospital, Tajazai.

They said a search was launched in the mountains to trace the robbers.

On Feb 28, highwaymen had killed Malang, a truck driver hailing from Shahrug town of Balochistan near the Pezu dam during robbery.

Meanwhile, local residents, including social, political activists and members of Marwat Bitanni Tehreek held a walk in Pezu city to denounce the killing of truck driver.

They demanded of the government to ensure safety of passengers and transporters on roads and highways and eliminate gangs of criminals.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024