The death
toll in the May 4 suicide attack at Khar Bazaar
of Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA), 2012 increased to 29 on May 5,
reported Dawn.
Meanwhile,
two suspects were arrested near Khar during
a search operation. Weapons, grenades, suicide
jackets and other explosive devices were seized,
he added.
Separately,
16 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
militants, belonging to different tribes, including
Masoodzai, Ali Sher, Afridi and Manttak (Orakzai),
surrendered to the Government authorities in
Kurram Agency, reports Daily Times. The
militants gave up their weapons before the political
administration in presence of the media in Parachinar,
the headquarters of the region. “We have shunned
all [militant] activities and ready to stand
with our people and Law Enforcement Agencies,”
a militant was quoted as saying. “We want to
start our new life because we were compelled
to cooperate with TTP militants when they started
their activities in Kurram Agency. Now we have
realised that they are killing our own people
and not waging a jihad... rather it is
bloodshed of the innocent people.” The former
militants told the media that they had witnessed
foreign fighters working side-by-side under
four commanders, Abdullah, Muhammad Rasham,
Walid and Rafiqullah. They disclosed that foreign
militants, including Chechens and Uzbeks, had
presence in the central parts of the troubled
area. |
