IB officer, passer-by shot dead in Peshawar

JI concerned over rising
incidents of target killing in city

PESHAWAR: An officer of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and a passer-by were killed Monday in firing by motorcyclists here in Tauheedabad locality in the limits of Agha Mir Jani Shah (Yakatoot) Police Station.

The incident is apparently part of the growing incidents of target killing in the provincial capital, especially in the limits of the Yakatoot Police Station.Usman Gul, an IB inspector, was on way to office on his motorbike when armed motorcyclists opened fire on him on the Wazir Bagh Road. The official as well as helper of a local mechanic, Iftikhar, sustained bullet injuries in the attack and were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital.

The IB officer, however, succumbed to injuries before he could reach hospital. The other victim expired at the Lady Reading Hospital.Senior police and intelligence officials rushed to the spot and carried out a search operation. However, the attackers could not be arrested.

The limits of the Yakatoot as well as Faqirabad police stations have become infamous for target killing of security personnel, government officials and other high-profile individuals in the last many months.

A number of senior officers, including police, Frontier Constabulary, Civil Secretariat and IB officials, have come under attacks in the provincial capital during the last many months. Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami, which is part of the ruling coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressed concern over the rising incidents of target killing in the city.

A meeting of the JI PK-3 was called at Wazir Bagh immediately after the incident to express anger at the target killings and murders of officials and elders. The JI asked the authorities to take measures for countering the menace.

Senior police officers admitted that the areas of Yakatoot and Faqirabad have really become a headache for the Capital City Police where target killing incident are continuing unabated.

“The cops are in a fix as to how to find a solution to the issue, particularly in Yakatoot and some areas of Faqirabad. The same problem has also emerged in the limits of a
few other police stations in north of the city, including Daudzai, Khazana, Mathra and Regi police stations,” said a source.

The police authorities have recently decided to set up a security post in Qazi Killay to keep a check on such incidents. However, more effective measures and improved intelligence is needed to restore peace in the provincial capital.