ISLAMABAD: A devastating remote-controlled improvised explosive deviceblast in Lower South Waziristan has claimed the life of a prominent JamiatUlema-i-Islam-Fazl leader, intensifying fears of escalating violenceagainst moderate religious figures in the tribal regions. Maulana SultanMuhammad Wazir, district president of Wafaqul Madaris al Arabia and asenior JUI-F official, succumbed to critical injuries on Saturday morningafter the attack on Friday near a madressah in the bustling Wana bazaararea. The incident, which unfolded in the Konra Cheena locality, hassparked widespread condemnation and highlighted a disturbing pattern oftargeted assaults that threaten peace and democratic values in KhyberPakhtunkhwa.
The blast occurred as Maulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir passed by the religiousseminary, where the IED had been strategically planted to ensure maximumimpact. Eyewitnesses reported a powerful explosion that immediatelyengulfed the area in chaos, leaving the cleric gravely wounded. He wasrushed to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan for urgent medical attention, buttragically passed away en route despite efforts by emergency personnel.Lower South Waziristan District Police Officer Muhammad Tahir Shah Wazirconfirmed the targeted nature of the attack and announced that a thoroughinvestigation was underway, with forensic teams analyzing evidencecollected from the site to identify the perpetrators.
This assassination represents the latest chapter in a chilling series ofincidents targeting religious scholars and JUI-F leaders in SouthWaziristan over the past two years, particularly concentrated in Wana andthe Birmal tehsil. Authorities have noted multiple previous attempts,including a severe bomb blast in March 2025 that left the JUI-F’s SouthWaziristan Emir critically injured and still under treatment at Multan’sNishtar Hospital. Similarly, former district president Maulana Mirza JanWazir sustained injuries in a terrorist attack in June 2024, latersuccumbing to his wounds. These recurring attacks underscore a persistentthreat to figures promoting moderation and constitutional engagement in theregion.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman swiftly responded with a poignantstatement on X, expressing profound grief over the loss of what hedescribed as a devoted and courageous leader. He emphasized that theincident transcended a personal tragedy, constituting a direct assault onthe party’s moderate, peaceful, and democratic ideology, which JUI-F haslong championed as its core values. Maulana Fazlur Rehman pointed to adeeply alarming pattern following similar incidents in Bajaur, wherefreedom-loving and peace-advocating scholars in religiously significantareas like South Waziristan continue to face systematic targeting, raisingserious questions about the security of such personalities.
The broader context reveals heightened militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,where groups opposed to democratic participation by religious parties haverepeatedly struck at JUI-F affiliates. Historical patterns indicatemotivations linked to ideological differences, with militants viewing theparty’s emphasis on tolerance and electoral politics as a challenge totheir extremist agendas. The region’s strategic location near the Afghanborder further complicates security dynamics, as cross-border influencesexacerbate local instability and enable such precise operations.
Local residents and political observers express growing apprehension thatunchecked violence could undermine community cohesion and derail efforts tofoster stability in former tribal areas. Law enforcement agencies facemounting pressure to deliver swift justice while bolstering protection forvulnerable leaders. The attack has prompted calls for enhanced intelligencesharing and preventive measures to safeguard religious seminaries andpublic figures who advocate non-violent discourse.
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As investigations progress, the nation watches closely for developmentsthat could reveal the perpetrators behind this brazen act. The loss ofMaulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir not only deprives the JUI-F of a keyorganizer but also serves as a stark reminder of the fragile securityenvironment in Pakistan’s northwestern frontier, where the pursuit of peaceremains under constant threat from those who reject moderation.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1966191/jui-f-leader-succumbs-to-injuries-following-blast-in-lower-south-waziristan
Tags: South Waziristan, JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, IED Attack, WanaBazaar
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