SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A cleric affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl was shot dead by unidentified armed men in the Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan district on Friday, the police said.

District Police Officer Mohammad Tahir Shah Wazir said that the incident took place after Friday prayers when unidentified motorcycle riders opened fire on Maulana Mohammad Ismail.

As a result of the firing, he died on the spot, while the attackers managed to escape from the scene on their motorcycle.

The DPO said that an initial report of the incident had been registered in the daily police diary and an investigation into the killing had been launched.

He added that police were examining different aspects of the incident.

According to police officials and tribal elders, the deceased was a resident of Kazha Panga and was serving as a teacher at a seminary in the area.

The killing has raised concerns among residents, who have demanded the arrest of the perpetrators and effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

It may be noted that several religious figures affiliated with JUI-F have been targeted in Lower South Waziristan over the past two years.

Earlier, JUI-F district chief Maulana Mirza Jan Wazir, Maulana Sultan Wazir and Mufti Ejaz were martyred in separate attacks by unidentified assailants.

Another JUI-F leader, Maulana Abdullah, sustained injuries in an explosion in the Azam Warsak area. He has been under treatment in a Multan hospital for the past year.

Another JUI-F leader, Maulana Shehzada, lost both his legs when an improvised explosive device went off at the gate of his seminary in Azam Warsak Bazaar.

Several others were also wounded in the incident.

Yet another JUI-F leader, Maulana Sakhi, was injured when an IED went off near the wall of a mosque, also in the Azam Warsak Bazaar.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026