SWABI: Six members of a family were killed and eight others suffered injuries when unidentified assailants opened fire on a pickup van in Yar Hussain village here on Friday.

Separately, three people were killed in another incident in Kalu Khan village, police said.

Ijaz Khan, the station house officer of Yar Hussain police station, said the victims were on way to Peshawar airport to see off a relative, who worked in Saudi Arabia.

District police officer Sajjad Khan told Dawn that the incident occurred at night when Adnan Khan along with his uncles, cousins and other family members was on way to Peshawar to catch a flight to Saudi Arabia.

The DPO said as the van reached Gul Abad area unidentified assailants opened fire on it, killing five of those onboard on the spot. One of the injured succumbed to injuries in DHQ hospital, Mardan. Five critically injured persons were referred to Peshawar.

The local people placed the bodies on Swabi-Mardan road near Adina bridge to protest the killings and demand arrest of the killers.

Local leaders of political parties also joined the protest. DPO Sajjad Khan, who also reached the venue, assured the protesters that the culprits would be arrested within 72 hours. After his assurance, the protesters dispersed peacefully, taking the bodies to their homes. Later, the victims were buried amid touching scenes.

Jamshed Khan, one of the injured, registered an FIR against unidentified attackers, saying that their family had no enmity with anyone. However, a police official said the incident seemed to be result of a family dispute.

The deceased were identified as Adnan Khan, Zeeshan Khan, Ayaz Khan, Ameen Khan, Shahab Khan and Musarat Bibi. The injured included Jamshad Khan, Mohazan Khan, Nasir Khan, Qaisar Khan, Nosher Khan, Hilal Khan, Umer Khan and Razi Khan.

Meanwhile, the DPO constituted a five-member committee to probe the killings.

Police said soon after the incident a search operation was launched by quick response force and three suspected persons with Kalashnikovs were taken into custody. Security had been tightened at the entry and exits points of the district.

KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, taking serious note of the firing on van in Swabi, directed to arrest all the culprits involved in the horrible incident. He also summoned a detailed in that regard, according to a handout issued here.

Mr Khattak expressed heartfelt sympathies with members of the grieved families and assured that they would be awarded justice at all costs.

Separately, three people, including two brothers, were killed over a women dispute in Kalu Khan village. The dead included Mohammad Ishaq from one group and Fawad Khan and Naveed Khan, two brothers, from the other. No group has so far registered FIR of the incident, said a police official.