Nine of family shot dead in Peshawar

Terrorists on Wednesday killed nine members of Mashokhel tribe in Budhber.
Three children were also among those killed. According to a private TV channel, the attack took place in the Budhber area of the city at a house belonging to the head of Mashko Khel peace committee, identified as Pir Israr Ali. Ali, his son, two brothers and four nephews were among the deceased.
Unidentified men hurled grenades at the house. When people came out of the house the attackers started firing at them.
Residents told a local daily that all the deceased were members of peace committee, adding that four members of the family were also killed a few days ago in a firefight with militants. A militant was also killed in the attack.
Deputy Superintendent Police Fazal-e-Wahid said, “At least nine men were shot dead by militants who stormed into a house at around 4:30am firing with automatic weapons and exploding hand grenades.”
Reportedly, there were between 30 and 40 attackers.
Najibur Rehman, another senior police official, confirmed the incident and said that the assailants came from Khyber and had targeted the family because of their affiliation with a peace committee.
The Bomb Disposal Squad also reached the scene and security officials started a search operation in the area.
The bodies of the victims were taken to a hospital for autopsy.
Residents protested against the killings and blocked Kohat Road.
It was the second deadly attack on the family in a week. In the first attack, the family had lost three members.
“It was purely a terrorist act,” said Superintendent of Police Rural Peshawar Rahim Shah.
Those killed were identified as Israr, Muhammad Haji, Saeed Wali, Sadaqat Shah, Yasir, Sabir, Akhtar Ali, Saddam and Rahmat.
The banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Islam has a stronghold in Bara region and is involved in terrorist attacks in and around Peshawar for the last several days.
Pir Israr was the brother of Pir Zafar – a local peace committee head and member of special police force – who was killed earlier in an encounter with Bara-based militants, added DSP Wahid.