LANDI KOTAL, Sept 5: Four activists of a pro-government armed group were injured when an improvised explosive device went off near a bunker in Bazaar-Zakhakhel area in Khyber Agency on Wednesday.

Officials said that the explosive device was planted near the bunker of commander Abdul Qadir, who along with his three guards was wounded critically in the blast.

All the injured, who belonged to Tawheedul Islam, a pro-government group of Zakhakhel tribesmen, were shifted to a hospital in Landi Kotal for treatment.

Most of the members of the group are former commanders and activists of Bara-based proscribed militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam. They formed Tawheedul Islam in March 2011 after developing differences with Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh over alleged execution of a Zakhakhel cleric.

They expelled commanders and activists of Lashkar-i-Islam from Bazaar-Zakhakhel area soon after forming the new organisation and announced to support political administration and security forces in clearing the area of all militant groups.

The group extended cooperation to polio vaccination campaign, concluded recently in Brag, Karamna, Alacha and Bazaar-Zakhakhel areas.

Meanwhile, an under-construction building in Ghundi area of Jamrud tehsil was partially damaged when explosive material planted inside it went off at midnight on Tuesday.

Officials said that the building belonged to a former official of Khasadar Force. The blast damaged at least three rooms of the building, they said. Nobody claimed responsibility for targeting the empty building.

Also, in Jamrud a blast caused no damage as it took place in a corn field on Ghundi road on Wednesday morning.

In Mohmand Agency, a primary school for boys was blown up by unidentified militants in tehsil Safi on Wednesday.Sources said that militants planted improvised explosives device at the building of government primary school Ghongat Johar and detonated it early on Wednesday. The blast destroyed completely the building, records and furniture of the school.

Tehsildar Liaqat Khan confirmed the incident, saying after the incident security forces conducted search operation in the area. He said that one suspect identified as Habib Gul was arrested with the help of sniffer dogs.

Agency Education Officer Said Mohammad Khan told Dawn that so far 101 government schools had been destroyed in Mohmand Agency, depriving 7,000 children of education.

He said that work was underway on reconstruction of 12 schools in Ambar, Safi and Pandiali tehsils. He said that Rs185 million were allocated for reconstructions of destroyed schools.

In Swabi, soldier Tanvir Khan, who was killed in Bajaur in a cross-border attack, was laid to rest with military honour in his ancestral graveyard in Kalu Khan on Wednesday.

His body was brought to his native town on Tuesday night. His funeral rituals were attended by army officers, district administration functionaries, other government officials and local people.

Opinion

Rule by law

Rule by law

‘The rule of law’ is being weaponised, taking on whatever meaning that fits the political objectives of those invoking it.

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