Policeman killed, brother injured in South Waziristan shooting

In South Waziristan, an act of violence unfolded on Sunday that claimed the life of a policeman, while his family members were grievously injured. The incident occurred in the Boya area within Upper South Waziristan district, as confirmed by police officials.

Constable Zahidullah Wazir, brother to Muhammad Jan Wazir, who serves as the political moharrir for the Lower South Waziristan administration, was killed on the spot. His father, Ghulam Nabi, and younger brother, Waheed, were critically injured. All three hail from the Shakai tehsil of Upper South Waziristan District.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asghar Ali Shah, in charge of Wana Circle, revealed to Dawn that these individuals had no known personal conflicts with anyone. The assailants managed to escape after opening fire on them and subsequently fled the scene. Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the location, sealed off the area, and began gathering evidence.

The injured family members were promptly taken to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Wana for urgent medical care. Constable Zahidullah Wazir’s body was also brought to the facility. The DSP Shah emphasized that a thorough investigation into the attack’s nature and motivations had been initiated by the police department.

DSP Shah further clarified that the family of political moharrir Muhammad Jan Wazir did not harbor any personal animosity towards anyone. Initial investigations suggested that this act may have been motivated by terrorism.

Since 2022, law and order conditions in Lower South Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, and North Waziristan have remained highly volatile, a situation troubling the local tribal populace. Tribal elders have reported frequent incidents of bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, civilian casualties, attacks on police check points, all posing serious threats to overall peace and stability in the region.

The deteriorating security landscape in these three tribal districts, including North Waziristan, intensified significantly after the Taliban broke their ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced they would target security personnel, police forces, and law enforcement agencies.