SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A civilian died and two persons including a police constable were injured in a firing incident in Raghzai Bazaar of Birmal tehsil, Lower South Waziristan, on Thursday during enforcement of Section 144.

A police spokesperson said that police personnel deployed in the area signaled two armed men riding a motorcycle to stop for identification.

However, the suspects allegedly refused to comply and opened indiscriminate fire on the police party.

According to police personnel they exercised restraint in view of presence of civilians in the busy market and responded with aerial firing to avoid casualties among the public. A police constable, Aqal Zadin, also sustained bullet injuries.

Police further said that two civilians identified as Abid Gangi Khel and Miraj Gangi Khel were also injured during the incident. All three injured persons were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Wana.

Hospital sources said that Abid Gangi Khel later succumbed to his injuries, while Miraj Gangi Khel was referred to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan.

South Waziristan Lower DPO Muhammad Tahir Shah Wazir confirmed the incident, saying that security personnel immediately cordoned off the area after the firing.

He added that a search operation had been launched to trace and arrest the suspects who managed to flee the scene.

The district police officer said an FIR had been registered against the suspects under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other relevant legal provisions.

He maintained that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend those involved in the incident.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026