Former lawmaker and National Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Mohsin Dawar remained unhurt after his vehicle came under fire in North Waziristan’s Miranshah on Wednesday, police said.

North Waziristan District Police Officer (DPO) Rohan Zeb said Dawar was targeted during an election campaign in the area. “The vehicle carrying the former lawmaker was bulletproof,” he told Dawn.com.

Zeb said security guards accompanying Dawar responded with gunfire, adding that the attackers used sub-machine guns (SMGs) in the assault.

The DPO said an additional police contingent had been provided to the NDM leader after the attack.

Separately, in a social media post, the NDM said terrorism had been increasing in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the state’s policies regarding the Taliban.

“How will a level playing field be provided to Mohsin Dawar in such a dangerous environment?” it asked, demanding an immediate investigation into the attack. The party added that the local administration was responsible for making security arrangements for candidates contesting in the upcoming general elections.

“We demand the election commissioner to immediately call an emergency meeting regarding the security of candidates in KP,” the NDM said.

Later in the day, Dawar took to X and said that his vehicle came under attack early morning as he was headed to a corner meeting. He said the assailants “began with AK-47s” and were also “preparing a rocket propelled grenade (RPG)” but ran away after his companions returned fire.

He said that he stopped for a while at a local house before going on the move, when he again came under attack. “This time it lasted for 30 to 40 minutes and once again the terrorists had to retreat,” he said.

Dawar questioned the absence of the military and vowed to “unmask these double games and the facilitation of this new great game”.

NDM founding member Bushra Gohar strongly condemned the attack and demanded an immediate investigation into it.

The incident comes a day after the bodies of at least six barbers from Dera Ghazi Khan were found in the North Waziristan district. According to police, the bodies of the barbers, who had been running shops in Mir Ali bazaar for many years, were discovered in agricultural fields after being abducted and executed in the night by unknown assailants.

Attack on JUI-F candidate in Bajaur

Separately, Bajaur District Police Officer Kashif Zulfiqar told Dawn.com that there was a blast near Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) candidate Qari Khairullah’s car albeit he remained safe and there was no loss of life.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri condemned the attack and questioned why the interior ministry and election commission were not fulfilling their responsibilities, as well as why the party was being targeted.

“New methods of rigging are being adopted by disturbing the peace and order situation. Some forces are afraid of JUI’s popularity,” he said in a statement on social media platform X.