PESHAWAR: An official communication from Miranshah received here today [July 6] reveals successful action by the Tochi Scouts in which they captured 31 hostiles of a force belonging to the notorious Faqir of Ipi. The communique further states that under the direction of the Political Agent for North Waziristan, Mr Hamzoni Daurs, the Scouts razed to the ground the house of a man, which was still recently being used by the Faqir of Ipi’s gang. …[A] Press bulletin … says: “The Faqir of Ipi’s gang, which had damaged khassadar posts, were captured. Six of them were disguised as women.[”] — Peshawar correspondent

[The Dawn correspondent in Bannu adds,] After having been trounced by the men of his own tribe near Razmak, the Fakir [of Ipi] to save face has issued a ‘proclamation’ to his men to suspend all kinds of hostilities during Ramzan. There is daily growing opposition to his activities and the Dawar tribesmen inhabiting the Tochi Valley, and who were his staunch supporters, have openly ridiculed him on his defeat. His prestige has badly been shaken and he is said to have gone back to his cell again.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2023