Fresh wave of targeted killings alarms Swat peace body members.

MINGORA -- The members of peace committees and local journalists showed concerns over fresh wave of targeted killing incidents after unidentified persons shot dead a peace committee member and journalist Javedullah Khan.

They were attending the funeral of the deceased, who was shot dead on Tuesday when he was going to his fields in his car, in Shakardara area of Matta tehsil.

In December 2019, unidentified assailants had shot dead Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz local leader Advocate Feroz Shah when he was returning home after offering evening prayer.

According to record, 54 members of peace committees and elders had lost their lives in the targeted killing incidents since 2010. The recent wave of targeted killings reignited fear among the local people, particularly among peace committee members.

The relatives of Javedullah Khan said that it was the 16th such incident in their family. 'Our family has always talked for peace in Swat and that's why we all were standing with the law enforcement agencies to bring peace during the militancy period,' said Mumtaz Ali, a cousin of the deceased.

He said that they were being punished as they fought for bringing peace but now they were tired of counting and burying dead bodies. He added that those, who were killing their family members, did not want peace in the area that's why they were killing the peace loving people.

Mr Ali said that militants...