“I want to learn about journalism,” he told Iqbal Khattak, a representative of the Paris-based RSF, who spoke with Aatif to confirm his participation in the training workshop.

Hours later, Aatif’s world crumbled as two hooded gunmen opened fire while he was offering evening prayer at a mosque near his house in the Shabqadar subdivision of the Charsadda district, north of Peshawar. [Read more]

Four others were killed in a separate, but similar attack. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

In an apparent reaction to the military offensive carried out in the
region earlier, about 60 militants attacked the Marazan check post late
Tuesday night.

In the retaliatory fire, more than 20 militants were reportedly
killed and nine militant hideouts were destroyed by the security forces.
The deceased was identified as Major Sikandar.

“The militants were hiding in nearby mountains and opened fire on the
convoy, followed by rockets,” a security official said. “Security
forces retaliated and killed 20 militants. One of our majors succumbed
to his wounds,” the official added.

While the area had been declared “clear” by security forces earlier, incidents of violence were regularly reported.

In a separate incident, officials confirmed a second attack from
militants in the Shadala area of Ghaljo, where rockets were fired at a
convoy. “The second attack happened in the same manner like the one in
Kurram Agency,” a security official said.

“The militants were hiding and targeted the convoy. In retaliatory
fire, four militants were killed. One of our soldiers sustained minor
injuries and is out of danger now,” the officials added.

Earlier, a policeman was killed, and another one injured, when a
remote-controlled explosion took place near a police check post in the
Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda.

Police officials added that the check post was situated on a main
road, linking Mohmand Agency with Charsadda and Peshawar. The funeral
prayers of the slain policeman were held with senior police officials,
including Peshawar city police officer in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2011. 

In an apparent reaction to the military offensive carried out in the
region earlier, about 60 militants attacked the Marazan check post late
Tuesday night.

In the retaliatory fire, more than 20 militants were reportedly
killed and nine militant hideouts were destroyed by the security forces.
The deceased was identified as Major Sikandar.

“The militants were hiding in nearby mountains and opened fire on the
convoy, followed by rockets,” a security official said. “Security
forces retaliated and killed 20 militants. One of our majors succumbed
to his wounds,” the official added.

While the area had been declared “clear” by security forces earlier, incidents of violence were regularly reported.

In a separate incident, officials confirmed a second attack from
militants in the Shadala area of Ghaljo, where rockets were fired at a
convoy. “The second attack happened in the same manner like the one in
Kurram Agency,” a security official said.

“The militants were hiding and targeted the convoy. In retaliatory
fire, four militants were killed. One of our soldiers sustained minor
injuries and is out of danger now,” the officials added.

Earlier, a policeman was killed, and another one injured, when a
remote-controlled explosion took place near a police check post in the
Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda.

Police officials added that the check post was situated on a main
road, linking Mohmand Agency with Charsadda and Peshawar. The funeral
prayers of the slain policeman were held with senior police officials,
including Peshawar city police officer in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2011.