Attacks in rural, urban Peshawar worry residents

Residents of the provincial metropolis are concerned due to the sharp increase in the attacks in the suburban and urban areas. Though there has been no suicide bombing or major militant attack in the recent past, targetted attacks are happening almost on a daily basis in urban and rural parts of the city. It has increased the sense of insecurity among the general public. There have been a series of target killings of known people from the Shia sect followed by another wave of attacks on law-enforcers within the urban limits of the city. A senior superintendent of police (SSP), Gul Wali, was among the many police and intelligence officers who have come under attack in the city during the last several weeks. Gul Wali sustained bullet injuries in the attack, but his gunman and driver were killed. The attackers managed to escape as it happens in most such incidents. Deputy Superintendent of Police Amanullah, Station House Officer Mira Jan, Sub-Inspector Gharibullah, around eight constables and two former assistant directors of the Intelligence Bureau Arif Khan and Mujahid Khan are among those killed in the targetted attacks during the last five weeks. Except for the killing of Mira Jan, the rest of the attacks happened in the old part of the city or its surroundings. Not only the security officials, but a number of well-off traders, politicians and others have been attacked within the city limits during the last several weeks. Two houses were bombed in the limits of Yakatoot Police Station and one each in Hashtnagri, Faqirabad, Gulbahar and Pishtakhara police stations during the last few weeks. Also, a bomb targetted a police van in the jurisdiction of the Yakatoot Police Station on Sunday. The owners of most of these houses have been receiving calls for paying extortion which they either failed or refused to pay. Many others who received calls to pay the extortion money have already paid the amount to avoid harm while many have shifted from the city. The situation in the limits of Matani, Badaber and Sarband police stations has gone from bad to worse since October last year. Security posts and officials have come under frequent attacks in the limits of the Matani and Badaber police stations during the last almost nine months. Several senior and junior officials as well as civilians were killed in these attacks. SP Rural Khurshid Khan, the known bomb disposal expert Hukam Khan and another bomb disposal official were among those killed in the area since October 2012. District Police Officer of Kohat Dilawar Bangash sustained serious injuries in the attack on his life in in the area in which six policemen were killed. The convoys of army and FC have also come under attack on several occasions in these lawless areas during the last few months. There are reports that militants have not only strengthened their networks in Matani and Badaber, but are also actively operating in parts of Peshawar city. Capital City Police Officer Liaqat Ali, however, told reporters during a recent media briefing that the situation was not that bad. “We have worked out many cases and work is going on several others. Gone are the days when one group would remain active as we will soon break it,” said Liaqat Ali while referring to increase in attacks on security officials. He added that life in the city was normal.