Sectarian Violence in NWFP - 2009

Date

Incident

January 9

Four people were killed and dozens of others injured after clashes erupted in the Hangu town and its surrounding areas. A mourning procession from Ustarzai, Ibarhimzai, Sherkot and Chakarkot villages was heading for the Hangu city despite a curfew. Sources said militants allegedly attacked the procession with rockets from the hilltops when it reached near Bahadur Banda, prompting an exchange of fire with the mourners. Consequently, four people were killed in the clashes. Police sources said both sides used heavy weapons against each other. The areas where clashes erupted included Charbagh, Gangyan, Serai Banda, Lakhtay Banda, Ibrahimzai, Bahadur Banda and city bazaar.

17 people were killed and 30 others injured in the continuing sectarian clashes in Hangu. Officials said fighting between the rival Shia and Sunni groups had been continuing since late January 9 while army helicopter gun ships were targeting the warring parties' positions to control the situation. The clashes erupted when people from Kohat, who were protesting against the imposition of curfew in Hangu on the eve of Ashura, were attacked by the rival sect. The two groups started targeting each other with heavy and light weapons. According to officials, clashes occurred in the Khanbari, Singhar, Paskalay, Gungano Kalay, Malik Abad and Ibrahim Zay areas of Hangu city.

A cease-fire between rival factions was reached in Hangu, after 30 persons were killed and 50 injured in sectarian clashes that broke out on January 9, according to Daily Times. However, The News put the death toll in the three days of sectarian clashes at 40. 20 houses - including that of the District Zakat committee chairman - were set ablaze in fresh clashes despite an earlier truce in the afternoon of January 11, as helicopter gunships targeted 'miscreant' hideouts. A private TV channel said the house of local Awami National Party leader Yahya Qureshi was also torched. Sources said three local commanders, Maulvi Nadeem, Momin and Ihsanullah, were among the six militants killed in sectarian clashes in Saidan Banda and Pass Kellay, while six civilians were also injured. Clashes between the armed groups continued in various areas, including Sangarabad, Bahadur Ghari, Saidan Banda, Mardokhel Banda, Kach Banda, Ibrahimzai, Nerobaag, Sheikhan Kellay and Lakhtay Banda throughout the day. Heavy weapons, including rockets, mortar shells and missiles were used in the clashes.

One soldier and four other persons were killed and 13 others, including nine Security Force (SF) personnel, were injured as sectarian clashes between rival groups continued in the Hangu District despite announcement of a cease-fire. Sources said gunship helicopters continued shelling different areas, including Pas Kellay and Ibrahimzai check-post.

Unidentified gunmen killed a Shia civilian in Dera Ismail Khan in the second sectarian-linked attack during the last 48 hours. "Unidentified gunmen shot dead Athar Hussain Shah on the Dayal road while he was returning to town from his nearby farm and then escaped," local police official Tauqir Abbas said. Abbas added the victim was the son of a caretaker at a local Shia mosque. "It seems to be a sectarian killing," the official said. There was, however, no claim of responsibility for the attack.

32 persons were killed and 145 others injured when a suicide bomber exploded himself in the funeral procession of a slain employee of the Tehsil Municipal Administration near the Shubra Square in Dera Ismail Khan. The funeral procession of local Shia community leader Sher Zaman alias Shera, who was killed in firing by unidentified persons on February 19, was heading towards Kotly Imam Hussain for his Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) and burial when a suicide bomber ran into the mourners and blew himself up. "We cannot immediately say who could be behind the bombing but it appeared to be linked with the ongoing sectarian attacks," said Saadullah Khan, the local police station chief. "The head and a foot of the suicide bomber has been found at the scene. The bomber appeared to be 20 years old with a beard," he added. Riots broke out in the city following the blast, and Police confirmed that two people were killed in the firing that followed the suicide bombing.

Separately, Police said they had arrested three of the four people suspected of killing Sher Zaman.

Two Sunnis were shot dead in the second apparent sectarian attack in Dera Ismail Khan in as many days. Muhammad Shoaib and Asad Khan were killed a day after a Shia couple were shot dead by armed motorcyclists in the same area. The two men were coming out of a mosque when the gunmen opened fire, before escaping on a motorbike, Police official Ehsanullah Khan said. "It seems to be a sectarian killing," he added.

A member of the banned Sunni group SSP was killed in an apparent sectarian attack in Dera Ismail Khan. Abu Khan, an SSP activist, was near his shop on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan when two gunmen shot him dead and later escaped on their motorbike, said witnesses. A boy on the street was also wounded. Local Police official Rasheed Khan said "He was an active member of Sipah-e-Sahaba… It seems to be a sectarian killing."

Three Sunnis were killed in an apparent sectarian attack in Dera Ismail Khan. Motorcycle-borne gunmen opened indiscriminate gunfire on a medical store, killing its owner and two relatives. Three other men were injured, an unnamed Police official said, adding that the victims were from the Sunni community. "The killings were linked to sectarian violence," he added.

A roadside bomb blast in the Kohat District killed a Shia man and wounded six others traveling in a mini-bus in an apparent sectarian attack. "Seven people were injured in the bomb blast," local Police official Shafiq Khan said. "It appears to be a sectarian attack as all the passengers in the van were Shias," he said, adding the blast was caused by a crude, makeshift device.

14 worshippers were wounded when unidentified motorcyclists lobbed a hand grenade at a mosque in Dera Ismail Khan. Sources said two unidentified men, riding a motorcycle, arrived at the Chichyan Mosque in the Kaneriyanwali locality and hurled the hand grenade when the people were offering 'Isha' prayers. "At least, 14 people were injured in the attack," an eyewitness said.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead three Shia labourers in a drive-by shooting in Dera Ismail Khan. The assailants, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on a group of workers at a construction site, local Police chief Muhammad Iqbal said. "Three of the workers died on the spot and one was injured. The victims were all Shias," he added. The slain civilians were identified as Muhammad Nawaz, Jahangir and Mumtaz Hussain.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead an agricultural research officer and his driver in the Kolachi area of Dera Ismail Khan. Sources said Muhammad Iqbal was on his way to the research station at Paharpur in Kolachi in his official vehicle when the gunmen opened fire on him. Consequently, Iqbal and his driver, Najeebullah, sustained bullet injuries. They were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. Muhammad Iqbal was the elder brother of Qari Khalil Ahmad, a leader of the outlawed Sunni group SSP.

July 6

A private TV channel reported that unidentified people shot dead a Shia rickshaw driver at Gali Bagh Wali in Dera Ismail Khan. He was identified as Bakht Wadha, a resident of Dinpur village.

July 6

Two Shia brothers were killed when unidentified men on a motorbike fired at them in Dera Ismail Khan. Police said the brothers, identified as Azmat Ali and Muhammad Ali, were at their shop on Grid Station Road.

July 6

Two persons, including a prayer leader, Amanullah, were killed when unidentified men opened fire on four people sitting at a shop near Wanda Mouchian Wala area in Dera Ismail Khan.

In a suspected sectarian incident, a Policeman was killed and four persons, including a Shia lawyer, were injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in the parking lot of a court in Dera Ismail Khan (DIK). The DIK Cantonment Police Station official Arif Khan said the bomb exploded as former District Bar Association president Mastan Ali Zaidi was parking his car in the District courts parking area. According to police, Mastan's bodyguard Asad Abbas, who was a Police constable, was killed while Mastan, his clerk Iqbal and two pedestrians were injured.

Syed Abul Hassan Jaffry, media manager of the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, the NWFP capital, was shot dead near his home in Gulbarg. Jaffry was going to his office when he was shot at point-blank range as he turned his car towards the Swati Phatak. Cantonment Circle Superintendent of Police Nisar Khan Marwat said that it appeared to be a sectarian attack. He said there was no eyewitness, but it was possible that more than one assailant had fired at the car from two directions with 30-bore pistols. Jaffry's brother-in-law Shah Agha said "It was a target killing, but it is not clear if he was killed by Americans or it was a sectarian attack. He had no enmity with anyone."