Mir Ali, Pakistan – Six individuals were killed by unidentified gunmen in the town of Mir Ali, located in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This incident comes as the region grapples with an escalating law and order crisis attributed to the increasing terrorism, just a little over a month away from the highly anticipated nationwide elections.
The victims, who were from Punjab and operated barber shops in the local bazaar, were abducted a day prior to the discovery of their bodies in a nearby area by the authorities. The spike in terrorist activities, such as assaults on military and police personnel, along with targeted killings, is particularly prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the region around Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan being the hardest hit.
The surge in violence has posed significant challenges for certain political parties, including JUI-F, ANP, PML-N, and PPP, all of which have been frequent targets of terrorist organizations. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who himself was previously targeted near Dera Ismail Khan, has called for a postponement of the February 8 polls due to the deteriorating law and order situation.
Furthermore, the ANP provincial chief, Aimal Wali Khan, and Fazl are reportedly facing serious threats, with concerns that the PTI secured power in the province following previous elections due to constraints on others’ campaign activities. Last year, the PTI founder publicly acknowledged facilitating the resettlement of Taliban and their families in the former tribal region, leading to a resurgence of terrorism in the area.
In summary, the troubling escalation of violence and terrorism in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has raised significant concerns as the country approaches the upcoming nationwide elections, making it an increasingly challenging and perilous environment for both civilians and political figures alike.