A member of a local peace committee was killed and eight others were injured on Friday when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in Makeen Bazaar, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper South Waziristan district, police reported.
According to Ghulam Mubashir Makin, the Regional Police Officer for Dera Ismail Khan, unidentified individuals had attached the explosive device to a motorcycle and left it in the bustling marketplace. The IED exploded around 10:45 am, initially injuring nine people.
Among the wounded were three members of a local peace committee, identified as Inayatullah, Sharat Khan, and Bangi Khan. Several traders and other individuals present in the market also sustained injuries.
The injured peace committee members were transported to Razmak Hospital for specialized treatment, while the remaining injured were taken to a nearby health facility. Later on Friday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hidayatullah confirmed that Inayatullah had succumbed to his injuries, bringing the final count to one dead and eight injured.
The explosion also caused significant damage to several shops in Makeen Bazaar, destroying merchandise, fixtures, and other property.
Police promptly cordoned off the affected area and initiated a search operation. Security personnel were deployed throughout the market to collect evidence and forensic material, as well as to search for those responsible.
RPO Makin stated that police had registered a preliminary report and launched a formal investigation. Investigators are currently examining the type of explosive used, the method by which it was attached to the motorcycle, and the potential motive behind the bombing. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
This attack occurred amidst escalating security concerns in both Upper and Lower South Waziristan. Residents have reported a rise in incidents including bombings, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion demands targeting traders, and attacks on police and security personnel.
Peace committee members, who often serve as intermediaries between authorities and local communities, have also faced increasing security threats.
Friday’s bombing followed another attack just two days prior. On Wednesday, armed assailants targeted a local peace committee member in Sararogha tehsil of Upper South Waziristan. A police official protecting the volunteer was killed, and the peace committee member was injured in that incident.
These two attacks within a matter of days underscore the significant security challenges confronting peace committee members, police, and residents throughout the South Waziristan districts.
