MIRANSHAH: At least seven people were killed and 21 others injured on Monday afternoon when a bomb exploded at the offices of the local Peace Committee in Wana, South Waziristan, police and district officials said. Authorities have not yet determined whether the explosion was caused by a suicide attack or a remote-controlled device.
The blast occurred during a meeting of the Shakai Tehsil Peace Committee in the lower bazaar area, chaired by Saifur Rehman, who was among the critically injured. Usman Khan, a local police official, told AFP that the jirga was being held at Rehman’s guesthouse when the explosion took place.
The injured, including several peace committee members, were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana. Rescue operations were ongoing, while investigators searched the blast site for evidence.
Police said the nature of the explosion was not immediately clear and that an investigation was underway. Following the blast, commercial activities in the area were suspended, and security measures were tightened.
The deputy commissioner of South Waziristan pledged that those responsible would soon be brought to justice. Local elder Malik Noor Islam condemned the attack, urging the government to take strict action against terrorists.
Peace committees were established with the support of local elders and state institutions to maintain order and combat extremism in tribal areas. While many of these committees were disbanded after improvements in national security, they had played a critical role in countering militant groups.
The Shakai Peace Committee had actively worked to prevent activities of extremist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which had resurged following the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the latest attack.
