A wanted commander identified as Zainullah alias Salar was killed in a Bannu operation by the Police Peace Committee in the Ghoriwala area of the district on Saturday morning, a committee spokesman confirmed.
Police Peace Committee spokesman Mer Zaman Marwat said the committee had conducted an operation against suspected terrorists in the area, during which Zainullah was killed.
According to sources, the suspected commander was a permanent resident of North Waziristan who had been living temporarily in Ghoriwala. Details of the cases registered against him, his alleged activities and the circumstances of the operation were not immediately available.
Second commander killed in South Waziristan clash
In a separate incident in South Waziristan Lower, an Afghan commander of the Shamshad group was killed in an exchange of fire between members of two militant factions.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Asghar Ali Shah said Afghan commander Barbad Afghani died during an exchange of fire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Zarmilan group and the Shamshad group in the Khankot area of Toi Khullah tehsil.
According to the police official, around 12 to 16 members of the Shamshad faction had split into two groups late at night. The group returning from a patrol in Sootian Kalay came under fire from its own associates in Pani Khel Kalay, killing Barbad Afghani. The circumstances were not immediately clear, and no further casualties were reported.
Quadcopter attack on Raghzai police station
In another incident late at night, the Raghzai Police Station in Birmal tehsil came under a quadcopter attack, District Police Officer Shah Hassan confirmed. No personnel were injured and all staff remained safe, officials said.
The attack fits a worrying pattern. A jirga in South Waziristan has already demanded an end to quadcopter strikes and curfews, underlining how drone-style attacks have unsettled local communities.
Bannu operation puts district on high alert
Meanwhile, Bannu police placed the district on high alert, with patrols and checking operations continuing across the area. On the directives of District Police Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Furqan Bilal, police personnel conducted patrols and checks within the jurisdictions of Domel and Township police stations under the supervision of Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Arshad Khan.
Officials said the measures were aimed at maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and protecting citizens’ lives and property.
A month of violence in Bannu
The incidents came amid continuing security concerns in Bannu and South Waziristan Lower. Bannu district has witnessed several security incidents this past month.
On September 13, two civilians were injured in a quadcopter attack at Shakir Chowk in the Bakakhel area. On September 15, police constable Ahmadullah was killed in a firing incident within the jurisdiction of Bannu Cantt police station. Then on September 16, two civilians, including a woman, were killed and two others injured in a suspected quadcopter attack in Bannu’s Wazir subdivision. Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the Elite Force and members of the Police Peace Committee subsequently conducted a joint operation, in which police said a suspected terrorist was killed.
The security pressure has disrupted daily life: the boards in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan postponed this week’s examinations amid the unrest.
The wider campaign has continued. Security forces killed nine terrorists in a North Waziristan intelligence-based operation earlier this week, and 18 terrorists were killed in operations in North Waziristan and Mastung on October 7. Bannu has also seen other recent violence, including an incident in which 13 hostages were freed after elders negotiated with militants.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Zainullah alias Salar?
Zainullah alias Salar was a wanted commander who was reportedly a permanent resident of North Waziristan and had been living temporarily in Bannu’s Ghoriwala area. Details of the cases against him were not immediately available.
What is the Police Peace Committee?
It is a local committee working alongside police in Bannu district. Its spokesman, Mer Zaman Marwat, confirmed Saturday’s operation against suspected terrorists in Ghoriwala.
What happened in South Waziristan Lower?
Afghan commander Barbad Afghani of the Shamshad group was killed in an exchange of fire between the TTP’s Zarmilan group and the Shamshad group in Khankot, Toi Khullah tehsil. Around 12 to 16 Shamshad members had split into two groups, and one group opened fire on the other.
Was anyone hurt in the Raghzai police station attack?
No. The Raghzai Police Station in Birmal tehsil came under a quadcopter attack late at night, but District Police Officer Shah Hassan confirmed no police personnel were injured.
*Original reporting: The Express Tribune*
