SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A police official was shot dead in broad daylight in the Azam Warsak Bazaar here on Saturday, in what authorities termed a targeted attack.
Lower South Waziristan district police officer Mohammad Tahir Shah said that Mohammad Suhail, who served as the Muharir (station clerk) at the Azam Warsak police station, had gone to the market to purchase personal items when he was attacked by unidentified gunmen.
Eyewitnesses said that the assailants opened fire at Suhail from a close range and fled the scene. He died instantly.
Police responded swiftly, cordoning off the market and launched a search operation. “An investigation has been initiated, and efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible,” DPO Shah stated.
The body of the slain officer was moved to the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana, for a postmortem examination, as part of the formal legal proceedings.
The daylight killing has triggered a wave of concern among residents, with calls for enhanced security measures in public and commercial areas.
Meanwhile, on the directives of deputy commissioner Musarrat Zaman, a team of the district administration officials carried out a series of field visits in Wana on Saturday.
The visits were conducted by additional assistant commissioner, Wana, Mohammad Arif, accompanied by the assistant food controller, livestock department in-charge and TMA officials.
The AAC attended a teacher training workshop, which highlighted the need for professional development of teachers to strengthen the local education system.
“Skilled and trained teachers are the backbone of quality education,” said Mr Arif during his address to the participants.
During an inspection of bakeries in Wana Bazaar, several outlets were found selling underweight bread. The owners were served with strict warnings.
The team also inspected various food outlets and grocery stores, identifying poor hygiene conditions and weight discrepancies. On-the-spot penalties were imposed, and shopkeepers were directed to improve cleanliness and comply with quality standards.
AAC Arif, along with the food department officials, also visited flour retailers and storage facilities to review pricing and stock management.
Shopkeepers were reminded to sell at government-notified rates. A government wheat stock was also inspected for pest control and hygiene compliance, and cleanliness warnings were issued where necessary.
Local residents expressed appreciation for the district administration’s efforts and called for regular enforcement to ensure transparency, fair pricing, and improved service delivery in the region.
Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2025