JUI-F cleric shot dead in Waziristan

A religious scholar affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the Azam

A religious scholar affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan, police said on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Maulana Muhammad Ismail. According to police, the attack took place shortly after Friday prayers when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on the cleric. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene before he could receive medical assistance.

The attackers fled immediately after carrying out the shooting. Police launched a search operation in the area, but no arrests have been made so far.

District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Tahir confirmed the incident and said an initial case has been registered. He added that investigators are examining all possible motives behind the attack and collecting evidence to identify those responsible.

According to local officials and tribal elders, Maulana Muhammad Ismail was a resident of Kazha Panga and served as a teacher at a religious seminary in the area. He was known for his religious services and educational work in the community.

Following the incident, law enforcement personnel reached the crime scene and shifted the body for legal formalities. Security was also tightened in nearby areas as authorities began efforts to trace the attackers.

Police said no group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Investigators are questioning witnesses and reviewing available information to determine whether the attack was linked to personal enmity, militancy or any other motive.

The killing has once again highlighted security concerns in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where religious and political figures have occasionally been targeted in violent attacks.

Earlier this year, former JUI-F provincial lawmaker Maulana Muhammad Idrees was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Charsadda. In a separate incident in January, JUI-F leader Maulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir succumbed to injuries after being critically wounded in a bomb blast near a religious seminary in Wana Bazaar, South Waziristan.