At least seven people were killed and another was injured when militants attacked members of a local peace militia (peace committee) in the Bannu district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.
District Police Officer Saleem Kulachi said the assault took place in the jurisdiction of Bannu’s Haved Police Station and targeted individuals associated with a community peace group. “Seven people lost their lives while one was injured,” he said.
Police identified the victims as Usama, Kamran, Muhammad Niaz, Waliullah, Sufyan, Nauman, and Sufian. The only survivor, identified as Muhammad, sustained injuries.
According to police, only Usama was affiliated with the peace militia. The remaining victims were civilians returning from a wedding. Kulachi described the incident as another brutal militant attack on non-combatants.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to locate the perpetrators.
The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction, which is linked to the Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan militant network, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities believe the assault was carried out in retaliation for a recent clash during which members of the peace militia confronted militants and reportedly killed four of them.
Bannu, located in northwestern Pakistan, has experienced a resurgence of militant activity in recent years, with frequent attacks against security forces and community peace bodies.
The district’s location near former tribal regions and its history of militant hideouts have made it particularly vulnerable. Despite ongoing operations, militant groups continue to exploit the region’s terrain and security challenges.
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