The Minister of the Interior condemns the “cowardly” attack that left seven dead in the strategic wedge of Bannu
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 wounded when gunmen belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked a peace committee office in Haved Daradariz area of Bannu, police said on Friday.
The incident occurred late at night, when militants broke into the residence and office of peace committee commander Qari Jalil. Jalil was not present at the scene during the assault and was unharmed.
The police have registered a case on the complaint of a citizen, Abdullah, under sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempt to murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (any member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offense committed in pursuit of a common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The First Information Report (FIR) named TTP militants Haroon, Shakir Gul Andaz and several other armed accomplices. Two teenagers, Nauman, 14, and Muhammad, 15, recorded statements confirming the identities of the attackers.
The shooting caused casualties identified as Usama, Faizan, Kamran, Niaz, Wali and Imdad. One of the injured died after being taken to a hospital.
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The attack highlights the deteriorating security situation in Haved Daradariz, a town in the volatile southern strip of Bannu. The area serves as a critical geographic wedge between the agricultural plains of the populated district 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, by the end of 2025, the area was transformed into a major theater of counterterrorism activities, going from a quiet hinterland to a hotbed of violence.
The town remains under strict security surveillance following major cordon and search operations carried out in August and November. These intelligence-based operations (IBOs) targeted hideouts used by militant facilitators to launch attacks on local police infrastructure and conduct cross-border raids.
Read more: KP forces kill five terrorists in Bannu and Lakki Marwat
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the incident and expressed 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 weaken the high morale of the population.
“The nation and the State are united against the enemies of peace,” he stated.
