ISLAMABAD: A powerful improvised explosive device detonated outside theoffice of former Domel tehsil nazim Fida Muhammad Khan Wazir in Bannu onTuesday, leaving the veteran tribal leader injured and his vehiclecompletely destroyed. The blast occurred at the main gate in the bustlingDomel Bazaar area while Wazir was present inside his vehicle. Policeofficials described the attack as a pre-planned operation using a remotelydetonated or timed IED. The incident has raised serious concerns about thedeteriorating security situation in the district, which continues towitness targeted violence despite repeated military operations in theregion.
The explosion caused significant structural damage to the office gate andsurrounding buildings while scattering debris across the bazaar road.According to eyewitness accounts, the blast produced a loud sound heardseveral kilometers away, sending panic among shopkeepers and passersby.Security forces responded swiftly by sealing off the entire area andlaunching a comprehensive search operation for possible suspects. Forensicteams collected evidence from the site, including fragments of theexplosive device, to determine its composition and method of detonation.Initial reports suggest the IED was concealed near the entrance, indicatingprecise surveillance of the former nazim’s movements.
Fida Muhammad Khan Wazir sustained minor injuries in the attack and wasimmediately shifted to a local hospital for medical treatment. Medicalsources confirmed that he escaped with superficial wounds and was laterdischarged after receiving first aid. Wazir, a respected figure in theWazir tribe, has long been associated with anti-militancy efforts in NorthWaziristan and Bannu. He played an instrumental role in mobilizingcommunity lashkars during the peak of terrorist activities and activelysupported peace committees aimed at countering extortion and targetedkillings in the merged districts.
Security analysts observe that such targeted attacks on tribal elders whooppose militancy reflect a deliberate strategy to eliminate voices ofresistance. Bannu district has witnessed a surge in violence since 2022,with multiple assassinations and blasts targeting former peace committeemembers and local administration officials. Official statistics compiled bythe provincial government indicate that over 140 targeted killings and IEDincidents have occurred in the merged districts during the past threeyears, severely undermining post-merger stabilization efforts. The latestattack on Wazir is viewed as part of this worrying pattern aimed atintimidating community leaders.
The Bannu police have registered a formal case and promised swift actionagainst the perpetrators. Senior officials emphasized that the provincialgovernment remains committed to protecting those who have stood againstterrorism. Community representatives have demanded enhanced securitymeasures for prominent anti-militancy figures and called for acceleratedintelligence-based operations to dismantle remaining militant networksoperating in the area. The incident has once again highlighted the fragilepeace in Bannu and the persistent challenge of restoring normalcy in theformerly tribal regions.
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Source: https://www.dawn.com
Tags: Pakistan, Bannu, IED Attack, Fida Wazir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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