SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Police in Ladha area of the South Waziristan tribal district recovered the body of the kidnapped tribal elder, Malik Shah Jahan, here on Friday.

Mr Jahan, according to the local police, had left home in Tank district to Makeen area of South Waziristan, when he was kidnapped by unknown armed persons on Thursday.

The police said that Mr Jahan’s body was recovered from Ladha subdivision on Friday.

They said that the tribal elder was close to the armed forces and was supportive of military operations against militants in the area. They said that no one had claimed responsibility for killing of the tribal elder.

The police, however, have started investigation into the case.

The local administration said that it was monitoring activities of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants in Shaktoi, Makeen, Ladha and Srarogha areas of the district. It added that gunship helicopters had targeted suspected locations of the militants.

On the other hand, the authorities have suspended mobile phone service in Ladha tehsil and Makeen areas in order to control the situation, locals said.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023