SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Another leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Din Saeed Wazir Gangikhel, was killed in a gun attack in Birmal tehsil at the funeral of party leader Maulana Mirza Jan Wazir, who got injured in a similar attack and succumbed to his wounds in a hospital, was held on Wednesday.

Police officials said Maulana Saeed was returning home from a mosque on the first day of Eid when he was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Sarrey Khowrey area of Lower Waziristan district. He died on the spot.

His family sources said the deceased was a teacher at a private school. Police officials said the attackers managed to escape.

Meanwhile, the funeral prayer of JUI-F district president Maulana Mirza Jan Wazir was offered at Wana Sports Complex.

Thousands of leaders and activists of JUI-F and other political parties as well as people belonging to different walks of life attended the funeral. Later, the body was taken to his native Sanga village in Shakai, where he was laid to rest.

The party has now appointed Maulana Salahuddin Wazir, the son of the deceased, as his political successor.

The deceased was attacked by unidentified assailants on motorcycles on Jun 13 when he was returning in his car from a workers’ gathering in the Sheen Warsak area. He had received critical injuries and was initially shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Wana, and subsequently to CMH Peshawar.

The local leaders of JUI-F called upon the government to trace the ‘target killers’ and award them exemplary punishment.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024