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Attack on cleric family

Nirupama Subramanian

PESHAWAR: At least 13 persons were killed in an attack on the house of a prominent anti-Taliban tribal leader in the Tank district of the North West Frontier Province on Wednesday night. Pir Attique-ur-Rehman, an influential tribal leader of South Waziristan, well-known for his stand against the Taliban and jiahdi groups, the apparent target of the attack, was not in the house at the time. Police said they were unable to locate him, but confirmed that he was not among the dead. But seven members of his family and six other relatives and guests, were killed when more than 100 armed men stormed his fortress-like house in Tank, a district of NWFP that borders South Waziristan. The security situation in Tank has worsened steadily over the last few months with pro-Taliban local militants from South Waziristan having a free run of the district. According to media reports, the civilian administration in the district has virtually collapsed, and the militants have virtually confined law enforcers to barracks.

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