Friday, May 01, 2009 
By our correspondent
MINGORA: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Muhammad Afzal Khan was airlifted from his native city Swat to Peshawar on Thursday for medical treatment but his departure fuelled speculation that it could be a prelude to yet another military operation in the valley.
A helicopter of the Pakistan Army lifted the 82-year old former federal minister, commonly known as Afzal Khan Lala, and some of his family members from his village Bara Darushkhela and flew them to Peshawar.
Afzal Khan Lala has survived several assassination attempts and his house in Bara Darushkhela was attacked by militants. Some of his relatives have been killed and injured and his property has been bombed. But he refused to submit to the Taliban or leave Swat. Unlike other politicians and landlords, he chose to stay in Swat instead of abandoning his people.
However, rumours were in the air in Swat that the shifting of Afzal Khan Lala to Peshawar was due to a looming operation in the valley.
When contacted for his comments, the spokesperson for the ISPR in Swat, Major Nasir, dispelled the impression. Upon contact, Afzal Khan Lala’s relatives told The News that he had come to Peshawar fo treatment of his prostrate problem. “He will return to Swat after undergoing treatment. He is not going to leave Swat after having endured so much sufferings,” Afzal Khan Lala’s nephew Salahuddin said.
Separately, four police officials were kidnapped and three persons, a policeman among them, were killed in separate incidents of violence at different areas of Swat valley. The police officials were identified as Asmat Ali, Bakht Rum, Saeed and Sameeullah. The kidnapping of the police officials has become a routine matter and over a dozen police officials have been kidnapped from different areas in the last couple of days.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two motorcyclists in Tettani area of Matta tehsil. The identities of the victims could not be ascertained. Meanwhile, armed militants occupied a police station in Kalam after the staff abandoned the building. There were reports about the death of a police constable Ataullah but the cause of his death could not be known. One report said he died after falling from a hill.
Unidentified gunmen ambushed a police mobile van in Panar area. The policemen returned the fire, forcing the attackers to escape. In another incident unidentified gunmen stormed the offices of the Social Welfare department in Saidu Sharif, seizing and taking away medicines and other equipment. It was the second incident of its nature during the last two days.
Residents said armed militants resumed patrolling in Saidu Sharif Colony, creating fear among the people. They had abandoned patrolling after being ordered by the Taliban leadership to stop the practice.
The jet fighters of the Pakistan Air Force and predators planes continued flying over various parts of the Swat valley. The flights panicked and scared the local population. Security forces carried out a flag march and patrolled different roads in Mingora city. The troops arrested a suspected militant during a roadside search of vehicles. Security forces were on high alert to ward off any unpleasant incident.
The participants of a procession organized by the Aman Tehreek of Swat demanded the government implement the Nizam-e-Adl regulation and establish Darul Qaza in the Malakand division. Shops and business centres in Mingora were closed when the procession was marching through the bazaars.
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