Two men, including a prominent social activist, were shot dead in separate attacks in Bajaur district on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in violence within the tribal region.
The first incident occurred in the Mamund tehsil, where unidentified gunmen targeted social activist Qari Ilyas. He was traveling near his village when attackers opened fire, killing him on the spot. Local police confirmed the victim was well-known in the area for his advocacy work, though no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Hours later, a second man was gunned down in the Khar area. Police identified the victim as a local resident, noting that the assailants managed to flee the scene before security forces could arrive. Investigators are still determining if the two killings are linked or if they were isolated acts of violence.
These attacks have triggered immediate unrest in Bajaur. Local residents and community leaders have staged protests, demanding that the provincial government restore order and identify the perpetrators behind the recent surge in targeted killings.
“The administration has failed to protect those who speak out,” said a local tribal elder, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. “When activists are targeted in broad daylight, it leaves the entire community vulnerable.”
Security officials have cordoned off the sites of both attacks, launching a search operation in the surrounding areas. However, no arrests have been made.
The killings follow a pattern of instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts, where security forces have struggled to contain armed groups operating in the mountainous terrain. For the people of Bajaur, the violence serves as a grim reminder that the region’s fragile peace remains under constant threat.
Two men, including a prominent social activist, were shot dead in separate attacks in Bajaur district on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in violence within the tribal region.
The first incident occurred in the Mamund tehsil, where unidentified gunmen targeted social activist Qari Ilyas. He was traveling near his village when attackers opened fire, killing him on the spot. Local police confirmed the victim was well-known in the area for his advocacy work, though no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Hours later, a second man was gunned down in the Khar area. Police identified the victim as a local resident, noting that the assailants managed to flee the scene before security forces could arrive. Investigators are still determining if the two killings are linked or if they were isolated acts of violence.
These attacks have triggered immediate unrest in Bajaur. Local residents and community leaders have staged protests, demanding that the provincial government restore order and identify the perpetrators behind the recent surge in targeted killings.
“The administration has failed to protect those who speak out,” said a local tribal elder, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. “When activists are targeted in broad daylight, it leaves the entire community vulnerable.”
Security officials have cordoned off the sites of both attacks, launching a search operation in the surrounding areas. However, no arrests have been made.
The killings follow a pattern of instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts, where security forces have struggled to contain armed groups operating in the mountainous terrain. For the people of Bajaur, the violence serves as a grim reminder that the region’s fragile peace remains under constant threat.
