SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Two tribal elders were shot dead by unidentified armed men in Toi Khulla tehsil of Lower South Waziristan district on Sunday, police said.

District Police Officer Shah Hassan said that the two men were travelling in a car from the Gul Kach area towards the Zarmilan area when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the Darozanda area.

The deceased were identified as Haji Gul and Malik Badshah, both belonging to the Sulemankhel tribe.

The two men sustained multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene, the DPO said.

The attackers fled the area after the shooting.

A preliminary report was registered at Toi Khulla police station, and an investigation began.

“Every aspect of the incident is being examined,” Mr Hassan told Dawn, adding that efforts were under way to trace and arrest the assailants.

The latest incident comes amid growing concern among residents about the deteriorating law and order situation in Lower South Waziristan. Over the past one and a half years, the district has witnessed a rise in incidents of targeted killings, bomb blasts, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and attacks on police and security personnel. Meanwhile, the administrations of Lower South Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Tank imposed Section 144 in several areas of the three districts for a day on Aug 10, citing security concerns and directing the residents to avoid unnecessary movement during the specified hours.

The deputy commissioners of the three districts issued separate notifications on Sunday evening, imposing restrictions on movement and ordering the closure of markets and business centres in the affected areas.

According to the notification issued by the Lower South Waziristan administration, a curfew will remain in force in Wana tehsil from 6am to 7pm on Monday (Aug 10). During the curfew, all kinds of movement will remain prohibited and markets and business centres in the affected areas will remain closed.

The affected routes include the road from Wana through Tiarza Gate, Karb Kot, Tanai and Azizabad Chowk up to Dargai Bridge. The route from Gul Kuch through Toi Khullah to Tanai has also been included in the restricted area.

The administration said movement on the affected routes would only be allowed in an emergency situation and with prior permission from the police or security forces.

In Upper South Waziristan, DC Irfan Ali said Section 144 would also remain in force in the Sarwekai and Sararogha tehsils from 6am to 7pm on Aug 10. All kinds of movement would remain restricted in the notified areas, while markets and business centres would remain closed during the period.

In Tank district, Deputy Commissioner Jamshed Khan said Section 144 would be enforced in Jandola subdivision from 6am to 7pm on Aug 10.

The restrictions would cover Jandola bazaar and other notified areas, where all business centres would remain closed and general movement would be prohibited during the specified hours.

According to the notification issued by the Tank administration, the route from Kour fort through Khargai to Jandola and up to the boundary between Tank district and Upper South Waziristan would remain closed. Jandola bazaar has also been included in the restricted area.

Another affected route runs from Dabra through Kour fort, Gardavi, Gomal Zam Dam and Gulgi Kot to Dabra and up to the boundary between Tank district and Lower South Waziristan. Kor bazaar has also been included in the restrictions.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026