Wanted terrorist commander killed in Bannu Police Peace Committee operation

A wanted commander identified as Zainullah alias Salar was reportedly killed during an operation by the Police Peace Committee in the Ghoriwala area of Bannu district on Saturday morning, a committee spokesman said.

Police Peace Committee spokesman Mer Zaman Marwat said the committee had conducted an operation against suspected terrorists in the area, during which Zainullah was killed.

The suspected commander was reportedly a permanent resident of North Waziristan who had been living temporarily in Ghoriwala, according to sources. Details of the cases registered against him, his alleged activities and the circumstances of the operation were not immediately available.

In a separate incident in South Waziristan Lower, an Afghan commander of the Shamshad group was killed in an exchange of fire between members of two terrorist factions.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Asghar Ali Shah said Afghan commander Barbad Afghani was killed during an exchange of fire between members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Zarmilan group and the Shamshad group in the Khankot area of Toi Khullah tehsil.

According to the police official, around 12 to 16 members of the Shamshad faction had split into two groups late at night. One group was in Sootian Kalay, while the other was stationed in Pani Khel Kalay.

The group returning from a patrol in Sootian Kalay came under fire from its own associates in Pani Khel Kalay, resulting in Barbad Afghani's death, SP Asghar. The circumstances that led to the exchange of fire were not immediately clear, and no further casualties were reported.

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In another incident last night, Raghzai Police Station in the Birmal tehsil came under a quadcopter attack late, District Police Officer Shah Hassan confirmed.

No police personnel were injured, and all staff at the station remained safe, officials said. Further details about possible damage and the identity of those responsible were not available.

Meanwhile, Bannu police placed the district on high alert, with patrols and checking operations continuing across the area.

On the directives of District Police Officer Captain (retired) Muhammad Furqan Bilal, police personnel conducted patrols and checks within the jurisdictions of Domel and Township police stations under the supervision of Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Arshad Khan.

The measures were aimed at maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and protecting citizens' lives and property.

The incidents came amid continuing security concerns in Bannu and South Waziristan Lower, with Bannu district witnessing several security incidents this past month.

On September 13, two civilians were injured in a quadcopter attack at Shakir Chowk in the Bakakhel area, according to reports. Then on September 15, police constable Ahmadullah was killed in a firing incident within the jurisdiction of Bannu Cantt police station.

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On September 16, two civilians, including a woman, were killed and two others injured in a suspected terrorist quadcopter attack in Bannu's Wazir subdivision. Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the Elite Force and members of the Police Peace Committee subsequently conducted a joint operation. Police said a suspected terrorist was killed during the operation, while a search-and-clearance operation was also launched.