Tribal elder among three killed in Wana bazaar IED blast; four injured
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LOWER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN – At least three people, including a prominent tribal elder and chief of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe Malik Tariq Wazir, were killed and four others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the busy Rustam Bazaar area of Wana on Monday morning, the officials said. The police said unidentified militants had planted explosives near the area during the night, which were detonated remotely in the morning as the vehicle passed by. District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Tahir Shah Wazir said that the explosion took place near Gulshan Plaza when a vehicle carrying Malik Tariq Wazir was passing through the market. The powerful blast resulted in multiple casualties on the spot, while several others were wounded. Following the incident, police and security personnel cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible. Rescue teams shifted the bodies and injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana for treatment and legal formalities. Medical Superintendent of DHQ Hospital, Dr Jan Mohammad, confirmed that two of the injured were in critical condition and were receiving emergency care. The blast triggered panic in the busy commercial area, forcing traders and shopkeepers to shut their businesses temporarily. Malik Tariq Wazir was considered an influential tribal figure in Lower South Waziristan, known for his role in resolving disputes and participating in jirgas aimed at maintaining peace in the region. He had previously been abducted in December 2024 but was later released following negotiations by tribal elders. The incident has drawn condemnation from political and religious circles. Former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan called on the state, provincial government, and security agencies to fulfill their constitutional responsibility in restoring peace in tribal districts. The security incidents in the region have increased in recent weeks. Earlier this month, three children were