SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A militant stated to be affiliated with the Haqqani Network was gunned down by unidentified attackers travelling in a car near Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal district, on Friday.

Witnesses said unknown armed men were apparently chasing the victim, Noor Zaman, who was going from Azam Warsak to Wana town on a motorcycle. The attackers opened fire on the moving motorcycle in Karez Kot area and escaped. Noor Zaman, 33, died on the spot.

Sources said the deceased had returned to South Waziristan from Afghanistan a few days ago. He was in Kabul during the Taliban takeover.

The sources said Noor Zaman’s family had affiliation with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Locals said the deceased was the first cousin of PTI’s general secretary, South Waziristan chapter Wali Mohammad and PTI youth wing Wana subdivision president Mohammad Sahal Wazir.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2021