Seven killed as bomb rips through Wana Jirga

MIRANSHAH:

At least seven people died while 21 others were wounded when a bomb exploded in the offices of the local Peace Committee in Wana in the South Waziristan district on Monday afternoon, police and district administration officials said.

Police have yet to determine whether it was suicide blast or a remote-controlled explosion. They said that the bomb went off when a meeting of the Shakai Tehsil Peace Committee was going on in the lower bazaar area, with its chairman Saifur Rehman in the chair.

"A local tribal elder Saifur Rahman was holding a jirga at his guesthouse when a bomb exploded, killing at least seven people while injuring 21 others," Usman Khan, a local police official, told AFP. "The nature of the blast is not clear yet," he added.

The injured, including members of the peace committee, were immediately shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana According to sources, Rehman was also seriously wounded in the blast and his condition was stated to be critical.

Police said rescue operation was under way, while investigators were sifting the blast site for evidence. "The nature of the explosion could not be determined immediately, and investigations are under way to determine whether it was a suicide attack or a remote-controlled explosion," a police official said.

After the blast the situation became tense, and all commercial activities in the market were suspended. The deputy commissioner of South Waziristan said that the security had been tightened in the area. "Those responsible will be brought to justice soon," he added.

Locals have expressed deep concerns over the incident. "We have restored peace here by making great sacrifices. Such incidents are an attempt to push us back," said Malik Noor Islam, a local elder. "The government should take strict action against terrorists."

The government has supported the peace committees, for years to defend their villages against terrorists. Many committees have been disbanded following a dramatic improvement in security across the country after several military operations.

These committees were established with the cooperation of local elders, tribal elders and state institutions to maintain peace and order at the regional level. Over the years, these committees played an important role against extremism in tribal districts, including South Waziristan.

The Shakai peace committee has been active in preventing the activities of various extremist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which had increased terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban's return to power in Kabul in 2021.

(WITH INPUT FROM AFP)