Two tribal elders killed in South Waziristan

Two tribal elders killed in South Waziristan

Two tribal elders were shot dead by unidentified armed men in the Zarmilan area of Toi Khulla tehsil in Lower South Waziristan on Sunday, according to police

District Police Officer (DPO) Shah Hassan identified the victims as Haji Gul and Malik Badshah, both members of the Suleman Khel tribe.

Police said the two elders were travelling from Gul Kach towards Zarmilan when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle near Darozanda. Both men sustained multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene, while the attackers escaped.

Police registered a preliminary case at Toi Khulla police station and launched an investigation. DPO Hassan said officers were examining all possible aspects of the incident and working to identify and arrest the suspects.

The killings come amid growing concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Lower South Waziristan. The district has witnessed a rise in targeted killings, bomb attacks, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and attacks on police and security personnel over the past 18 months.

Tribal elders and their relatives have increasingly become targets of violence. The trend has raised concerns about the safety of influential tribal figures, who have traditionally helped resolve disputes and maintain peace through jirgas and other local mechanisms.

In May, prominent tribal elder and chief of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, Malik Tariq Wazir, was among three people killed in an IED blast near Gulshan Plaza in Wana’s busy Rustam Bazaar. Four others suffered injuries in the explosion.

Police said explosives had allegedly been planted near the plaza overnight and detonated in the morning as Malik Tariq passed through the market in a vehicle. He was considered an influential figure who played an active role in tribal jirgas and local dispute resolution. He had also been abducted by armed men in December 2024 but was later released following efforts by tribal elders and local mediators.

In another incident in June 2026, unidentified gunmen killed two sons of prominent tribal elder Malik Jamil Wazir near Kari Kot Bazaar in Wana tehsil. The brothers were identified as Naveed Wazir and Moeenuddin Wazir.