Interior minister condemns ‘cowardly’ assault that left seven dead in Bannu’s strategic wedge
A police officer stands guard on a street with damaged shops in the background in Bannu Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Photo: AFP
Seven people were killed and another injured when armed men belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked a peace committee office in the Haved Daradariz area of Bannu, police said on Friday.
The incident occurred late at night when militants stormed the residence and office of peace committee commander Qari Jalil. Jalil was not present at the location during the assault and remained unhurt.
Police have registered a case on the complaint of a citizen, Abdullah, under sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The First Information Report (FIR) nominated TTP militants Haroon, Shakir Gul Andaz and several other armed accomplices. Two teenagers, 14-year-old Nauman and 15-year-old Muhammad, recorded statements confirming the identities of the attackers.
The firing resulted in casualties identified as Usama, Faizan, Kamran, Niaz, Wali and Imdad. One of the injured died after being shifted to hospital.
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The attack highlights the deteriorating security situation in Haved Daradariz, a locality situated on the volatile southern fringe of Bannu. The area serves as a critical geographical wedge between the settled district’s agricultural plains and the rugged tribal foothills of North Waziristan.
Due to its proximity to the porous border, Haved has historically functioned as a strategic transit route. However, in late 2025, the area transformed into a primary theatre for counter-terrorism activity, evolving from a quiet hinterland into a flashpoint for violence.
The locality remains under tight security surveillance following major cordon-and-search operations conducted in August and November. These Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) targeted hideouts used by militant facilitators to launch attacks on local police infrastructure and stage cross-border incursions.
Read more: K-P forces kill five terrorists in Bannu, Lakki Marwat raid
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the incident, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
“This cowardly act of terrorism is a malicious attempt to undermine peace and stability,” Naqvi said. Referring to the attackers as “Fitna-ul-Khawarij”, he stated that such actions could not shake the high morale of the people.
“The nation and the state stand united against the enemies of peace,” he maintained.
