NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Four tribal elders were killed and one was seriously injured when unknown persons opened fire on a vehicle in Chota Dattakhel village of Mirali subdivision in North Waziristan district on Tuesday, the police said.

They said the attack took place when tribal elders were returning to the village in a vehicle after holding a jirga. The injured was shifted to hospital in critical condition.

The police said that the deceased included Malik Sher Bahadur, Malik Ajmal, Malik Liwan Khan and Malik Shutle.

The deceased elders were playing a prominent role in maintaining peace in the area, they said.

According to sources, the attackers managed to escape after the firing.

Immediately after the incident, the police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, but no arrests have been made as yet.

The district administration has launched an investigation into the incident.

Official sources confirmed that the attack could be an act of terrorism, but a final opinion in this regard will be given after the investigation is completed.

Political and social circles have strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the perpetrators be arrested as soon as possible and brought to justice.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025