MINGORA, July 6: Four security personnel were injured when their vehicle was ambushed near Matta police station on Friday. The injured, Deputy Superintendent Abdur Rasheed, Sub-Inspector Shehzad Khan, Constable Azam Khan and FC Sepoy Tariq Javed, were taken to Saidu Hospital.

Police sources said the officials were passing through Baryam Chowk area when their vehicle came under fire from a hillock.

A police party reached the place and fired on the assailants who escaped.

Tension has been on the rise between the authorities and followers of Maulana Fazlullah, son-in-law of Maulana Sufi Mohammad, chief of the banned Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi. He is accused of propagating extremism through his illegal FM radio station from his native village Mam Dehri, which he has renamed as Islam Dehri.

Meanwhile, a peace jirga held on Friday condemned the recent attack on District Police Officer Mazharul Haq. The jirga presided over by Maulana Fazal Haq expressed concern over tension in the valley.

It decided to hold a meeting with Maulana Fazlullah to defuse the tension.

Members of the jirga said it was not clear which party had breached the peace agreement between the government and the cleric.

They said FM stations should not be used for promoting personal interests, but there should be no ban on using them to propagate Islam.