Al-Haj Zahid Khan, an active member of Swat Qaumi Jirga and president of Swat Hotels Association, was critically injured when some unidentified persons opened fire at him in Mingora after Isha prayers the other day.
According to details, he was coming back home near Mingora General Bus Stand after offering Tarawih prayers in the nearby mosque when some unidentified men attacked him and opened fire at him, wounding him critically. He is reported to have received bullets in the head. The locals rushed him to Saidu Teaching Hospital in a critical condition where he is currently receiving medical aid. The news of the event spread like wildfire in the area. A large number of people including members of civil society, political parties and of the Swat Qaumi Jirga arrived at the hospital.
“There was a scuffle between one of the assaulters and Al-Haj Zahid Khan,” an eyewitness informed. “The killer missed the target most probably due to the scuffle,” he further added. The police took into custody a mobile set, a cap and a pair of slippers found at the spot left by one of the attackers.
The event has raised doubts in the minds of the people as to how the attackers could so confidently attack a prominent person at such a busy place as the General Bus Stand where at least a dozen police personnel patrol round the clock. It is relevant to note that Al-Haj Zahid Khan is a member of the Public Safety Committee and was among the first few brave people who raised their voice against the militants during the Taliban era in Swat.
