By IRNA
Islamabad : Suspected militants have killed eight members of tribal peace jirga or council in the South Waziristan tribal region, the army said on Monday.
The attacks were carried last night hours before a peace jirga, the center of South Waziristan, scheduled to be held in Tank, a city at the edge of South Waziristan.
“Miscreants fired at Peace Committee offices in Wana Bazar, the center of South Waziristan and Shikai also in South Waziristan.
Resultantly 8 members of Peace Committee expired, 3 in Wana Bazar and 5 in Shika,” a statement from the army Inter-Services Public Relations said.
There was no claim of the attacks from any group.
Locals said that the authorities had convened a jirga of the major Mehsood tribe to seek their support against the militants.
Five other people were also injured in the attacks, local tribesmen said.
The army has been engaged in operation against militants in South Waziristan and there are reports that a major operation is being planned against Baitullah Mehsood, the head of Pakistan Taliban Movement.
President Pervez Musharraf has accused Mehsood of masterminding the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the charge denied by Mehsood spokesman.
Musharraf claims that Mehsood is recruiting suicide bombers.