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| Cleric among 33 killed in Orakzai air strikes |
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Friday, June 12, 2009
By Mushtaq Yusufzai & Syed Hasan Mahmud
PESHAWAR/KALAYA: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet fighters on Thursday started bombing suspected locations of Taliban militants in the Orakzai tribal agency and the adjoining Hangu district, killing 33 people, including Sunni Supreme Council chief Maulana Muhammad Amin and his nephew, and injuring 29 others.
The local officials, however, put the death toll in the two restive regions at 50, including women and children.The sudden and heavy bombing by the PAF aircraft in the two troubled areas forced thousands of families to migrate towards relatively safer places in Hangu and Kohat districts.
The warplanes targeted militants’ positions in Mushti Bazaar, Mushti Mela, Ferozkhel, Sheikhan, Dabori, Ghiljo, Khadeezai, Shahuwam and Sultanzai.Twenty-six people were reportedly killed and 13 others seriously injured in the daylong bombing in these villages of Orakzai Agency.
The warplanes also targeted a madrassa run by prominent cleric and leader of Sunni Supreme Council of Hangu and Orakzai Agency Maulana Mohammad Amin at Shahuwam bazaar in Orakzai. Besides six other people, the Maulana himself and his nephew Hafiz Rashid Ahmad were killed and a few others seriously injured. Maulana Amin had reportedly close links with militants.
Later, the local clerics held an emergency meeting and decided to close all Madrassas in Hangu district as a protest. Similarly, all trade and commercial centres as well as government offices were closed after the incident.
The Sunni Supreme Council announced a complete strike for today (Friday) and asked the people to keep their business closed. The planes also targeted an alleged training centre of militants in Khapanga area of Lower Kurram Agency. The camp was reportedly run by local militant commander, Ismail Shah.
Military officials said Maulana Amin had close links with the Taliban militants. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued here said 40 terrorists were present in the Madrassa during the attack. It said 13 of the terrorists died, which the local administration confirmed. The ISPR spokesman also denied bombing Madrassas and mosques and killing of innocent people. He said the places, which the warplanes pounded, were hideouts of the militants.
Our correspondent from Wana adds: Meanwhile, 10 persons, including six militants and four soldiers, were killed in an exchange of fire near Seplatoi Fort in South Waziristan Agency. Official sources said around 400 militants attacked the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) Seplatoi Fort with rocket launchers and other heavy weapons in the wee hours of Thursday. The troops repulsed militants’ attack and exchange of fire continued for a few hours.
According to sources, six militants and four soldiers were killed while seven militants and five soldiers sustained injuries in the exchange of fire. Other reports said 11 militants were killed in the encounter.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
