MIRANSHAH: An intense exchange of fire erupted on Friday between members of the Darpa Khel tribe and militants in Miranshah, the district headquarters of North Waziristan, following the killing of tribal elder Malik Saifullah Khan Dawar, police said.

According to details, unidentified gunmen shot Saifullah outside his residence, triggering a fierce clash as armed tribesmen confronted the militants. Both sides reportedly used automatic weapons, and the exchange of fire continued for several hours.

Sources said that a day earlier, suspected militants had allegedly occupied a local mosque, but Saifullah, along with other tribal elders, intervened and forced them to vacate the premises.

On Friday morning, a large group of militants reportedly returned to the area, called Saifullah out of his house and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot, the sources added.

During the clash, four local residents — identified as Yaqoob, Fazal Karim, Mujahid, and one unidentified person — were injured.

The injured were shifted to the Miranshah Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Local sources also claimed that at least two militants were killed in the exchange of fire.

Due to panic and fear, markets and business centres in Miranshah and nearby areas have been closed, and residents have remained confined to their homes.

Local elders said the killing of Saifullah is likely to further worsen the law and order situation in the area, adding that there is widespread anger among the tribes over the incident.

Earlier this week, another tribal elder was killed in the Inayat Kallay Bazaar area of Bajaur district.

Malik Fazal Wahid, 55, was critically injured and was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

However, the hospital sources said he succumbed to his injuries during the surgery at the facility’s emergency department.