A deadly attack on the residence and compound of Malik Qadir Zaman, the head of the Aman (peace) Committee and a government-backed commander in North Waziristan, left at least three people dead, including a key aide and nearly 10 others injured.
The assault took place in the Gurbaz area of sub-division Wazir, near Mir Ali, at approximately 9pm on Friday night.
According to official sources, around 30 terrorists launched a major offensive against Qadir Zaman, also known as Qadirkai, at his stronghold.
The attack resulted in the death of three people, including Commander Fateh, a key figure in Zaman's group responsible for financial and operational affairs, and injuries to 10 others. The injured were transported to Bannu Hospital for treatment.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the harrowing ordeal, saying, "We were asleep when sudden, intense gunfire and explosions jolted us awake. Our children started crying in fear. Initially, we thought it was another clash between security forces and militants but when we stepped outside, we saw around 30 masked gunmen attacking Commander Qadir Zaman's compound. I personally witnessed bodies and wounded individuals lying on the ground, writhing in pain".
The gun battle reportedly lasted for nearly an hour. There are conflicting reports regarding the status of Qadir Zaman himself. Some sources claimed he remained unharmed while others suggested he sustained injuries. No information has been received about casualties among the attackers.
Qadir Zaman is known for his close ties with the government and is regarded as one of its key allies in the region.
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