By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A powerful explosion targeted the offices of a government-backed peace committee in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, killing seven people and injuring at least 16, local police said.
The blast struck in Wana, a city in the South Waziristan district near the Afghan border, collapsing two offices belonging to peace committee commander Saifur Rehman.
South Waziristan police spokesperson said the explosion occurred during a meeting at the facility.
“Details into the casualties are still coming because the intensity of the blast caused the buildings to collapse,” the spokesman said. “A number of people are trapped under the rubble, and rescue operations are underway.”
Police said authorities have yet to determine whether the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber or a remote-controlled device. Photographs circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the blast site, underscoring the severity of the attack.
Peace committees in the region typically consist of tribal leaders who openly oppose the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group linked to numerous deadly attacks across the country. While no group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s bombing, suspicion is likely to fall on the TTP, which has a history of targeting such entities.
Of the injured, five are in critical condition, including two peace committee commanders, Rehman and Tehsil Wazir, according to tribal elder Almir Khan Wazir. “They were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in critical condition,” Wazir said.
The bombing comes amid intensified military activity in the region. The military reported on Monday that 71 militants had been killed in operations in the neighboring North Waziristan district over the past three days.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban government in Afghanistan of harboring TTP militants, a charge Kabul denies. The porous border between the two nations has been a persistent flashpoint in their strained relations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing sorrow for the lives lost and offering prayers for the victims and their families.
In a statement released by his office, Sharif said, “Those who harm the lives and property of innocent and unarmed citizens will have to pay a very heavy price.”
He reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan, pledging continued support for security forces in their efforts.
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