Explosion targets home of lawmaker in northwest Pakistan

A bomb exploded outside the residence of a provincial lawmaker in northwestern Pakistan, officials said, as a wave of violence continues to rattle the country’s Bajaur district near the border with Afghanistan.

Police said the attack involved an improvised explosive device (IED) planted outside the home of Dr Hamid ur Rehman, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly. The device detonated near the front gate of the residence in the district's main town of Khar.

“There were no casualties,” District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq told Nukta. “The lawmaker was not at home when the blast occurred.”

He described the incident as an act of terrorism, possibly related to extortion. “We are in contact with the MPA (Member of Provincial Assembly), and a thorough investigation is underway,” Rafiq said.

Fifth major attack in two months

This marks the fifth major attack in Bajaur in the last two months, underscoring rising threats to political and government figures in the volatile region.

Two earlier attacks targeted the home of Mubarak Zeb, a federal lawmaker and aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On May 14, an IED exploded outside his residence, and on June 14, a rocket struck the same property. No injuries were reported, as he was away on both occasions.

A view outside the home of MPA Hamid ur Rehman after a bomb blast in Bajaur, Pakistan, on July 17, 2025.Nukta

On July 2, a bomb hit the convoy of an assistant commissioner — a senior local administrator — killing him and four others and injuring 11 more.

Just over a week later, on July 10, a leader of the secular Awami National Party, Maulana Khanzeb, was shot dead while campaigning for a peace march in the area.

Militant hotspot

In response to the deteriorating security environment, authorities have intensified protective measures. “Six police personnel have been deployed for the protection of Dr Rehman,” Rafiq said.

Bajaur, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, borders Afghanistan and has long been a hotspot for militancy. Armed groups, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State group (known locally as Daesh), have operated in the area.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, the Islamic State did take credit for the July 2 bombing that killed the assistant commissioner.

In a bid to calm tensions and address security concerns, a high-level jirga (a traditional tribal council) was convened on Wednesday. According to the provincial chief secretary’s office, the meeting brought together senior police and security officials, government representatives, tribal elders, local politicians, and religious scholars.

During the meeting, the acting chief secretary and the provincial police chief said the government is prioritizing peace in Bajaur and is committed to eliminating the militant threat through coordination, trust, and public engagement.

Police have launched multiple operations across the district. “We are conducting search-and-strike missions and targeted actions based on intelligence,” Rafiq said. “Additional checkpoints have been set up, and we’re hopeful those responsible for these attacks will be caught and terrorism will be decisively eliminated.”