Peshawar, Nov 9 (IANS) Abdul Malik, the mayor of Adezai Union Council in Pakistan’s northwest who was killed in a bomb blast in Peshawar Sunday, was targeted as he did not support Taliban militants, a media report said.
Malik, who was in his early 50s and had been twice elected as mayor of the Adezai Union Council, had sworn on the Holy Koran in the Badaber Police Station Oct 21 last year that he would never support any group carrying out attacks on security forces, The News newspaper reported.
His promise angered the militants, who warned him to end supporting the government and rained rockets at his residence Nov 26, 2008.
This was the beginning of his miseries and after that Malik’s house and vehicle were attacked about 20 times.
Militants also blew up schools in his constituency, forcing many parents not to send their children to local schools.
Malik also raised Qaumi Lashkar, a volunteer force comprising people of his village, to counter the militants attacks.
After the formation of Qaumi Lashkar, no stranger was allowed to move into the town without valid reason and many people were killed for roaming suspiciously in the village.
The militants finally got the opportunity Sunday when Abdul Malik left his house for the cattle market at Ittefaq Chowk to buy an animal for sacrifice on Eidul Azha. The bomber rushed towards the mayor when he came out of his car and detonated explosives in his vest, killing Malik.
