Four top members of anti-Taliban militia killed in Pak

The chief of an anti-Taliban militia along with his three colleagues was killed by militants in northwest Pakistan, days after he survived a suicide attack near Peshawar.

The bodies of Mohammad Fahim Khan and his colleagues were dumped on the outskirts of Peshawar city in northwest Pakistan today, police said, without giving the exact date of their killing.

The four men were abducted and killed. Their bodies were found in a car, a police officer said.

Khan was heading a 'lashkar' or militia to fight the Pakistani Taliban in Badabher area near Darra Adam Khel tribal region.

He had earlier survived at least four attacks by the Taliban, including suicide bombings. On June 12, Khan escaped unhurt in a suicide attack on his car near Peshawar, that left two police guards dead.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing of Khan and his colleagues.
Police and his relatives blamed Taliban for the incident.

A police officer said Khan and his colleagues were killed elsewhere and their bodies were brought to Peshawar in a vehicle.

Footage on television showed police removing the bodies from the car.
Some of Khan's relatives and many members of the militia gathered at the site and vowed to take revenge.

Khan, who had served as an elected mayor in his area, had raised a militia to fight the Taliban in his town of Bazid Khel, 15 km south of Peshawar.

The militia was raised following a spurt in Taliban attacks in the area.
Militants had once targeted the guesthouse attached to Khan's residence and killed several people.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan routinely targets members of pro-government militias in Pakistan's restive northwest.

The killing of Khan and his colleagues highlighted the danger to the lives of members of anti-Taliban militias.

Officials say the Taliban have killed hundreds of pro-government tribal tribesmen, including elders, government officials and politicians over the past few years.