Security forces on Monday gunned down a key leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during an encounter in Jani Khel area of Bannu. The militant was killed in a retaliatory firing by security forces patrolling the area after he fired gunshots on them. He was wanted to the security forces in several terror-related cases. In a recent attack during election campaign Pakistan, Haroon Bilour, who was a candidate for PK-78, and 21 others were martyred when a blast occurred at a corner meeting of ANP in the Yakatoot area of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital. Haroon was the son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who was himself martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar in 2012. The responsibility for attacked was claimed by the TTP. Published in Daily Times, August 7th 2018.