An official of an intelligence agency was martyred and two others, including a police official, were injured as a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader opened fire on them during a raid.
According to details, a police team from Bannu along with members of an intelligence agency raided a house in Township area to apprehend Hanif Pashteen of the PTM. As the raiding party entered the house of Faheem, where Hanif Pashteen had taken shelter, the PTM leader opened fire on the team. Resultantly, Hav Mohsin Shehzad and Hav Shakir Azam of the intelligence agency and one police official got injured. Hav Shakir Azam later succumbed to his injuries, while Hav Mohsin Shehzad was immediately evacuated to the CMH Bannu.
Hanif Pashteen, Faheem and Shaheen have been apprehended. One 9 mm pistol and one AK 47 have also been seized from them. An FIR of the incident has been registered by Township Police Station, Bannu.
The incident has given credence to the notion that PTM is not a peaceful organisation as they claim, but acting like a terrorist organization, who resort to clashes with the law enforcement agencies in such situations. This is the second instance when PTM has abrogated the law of the land by firing at the law enforcing personnel and has resorted to violence causing loss of life.
In May, a mob led by PTM leaders and National Assembly members Mohsin Javed (Dawar) and Ali Wazir had assaulted Kharqamar checkpost in Boyya area of North Waziristan tribal district, causing injuries to five soldiers of Pakistan Army. “Troops at the checkpost exercised maximum restraint in the face of provocation and direct firing on the post,” a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) at that time had said. “Due to firing of the group, five army soldiers got injured. In exchange of fire, three individuals who attacked the post lost their lives and 10 got injured,” the ISPR had stated. According to the ISPR, the aim of the attack at the checkpost was to exert pressure for the release of a suspected facilitator of terrorists arrested the other day.
Both Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir are in custody and legal proceedings are underway against them.
