Five peace committee members were martyred; Police claim to have found the bomber’s severed head; High alert declared in hospitals
The body of a suicide victim is brought to a hospital. Photo: Express
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A suicide bombing ripped through a wedding ceremony at the peace committee leaders’ residence near Qureshi Mor in Dera Ismail Khan, killing five members of the peace committee and injuring seven others, police confirmed Friday evening.
District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada, while sharing initial details with the media, said the attack took place during an ongoing wedding ceremony at the house of peace committee leaders.
He confirmed that five people were killed on the spot while seven others sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for immediate medical attention.
According to police and security officials, the suicide bomber’s severed head, believed to be a 17-year-old, was rescued from the blast site and detained for forensic examination and identification.
Investigation teams and forensic experts remained at the scene and collected evidence to establish the attacker’s identity and trace the network behind the attack.
The explosion happened at the height of the wedding festivities, and suddenly the household was thrown into mourning.
Police and rescue teams quickly cordoned off the scene, while hospitals were put on high alert to ensure uninterrupted treatment of the injured.
Officials said investigations were underway to ascertain the motives behind the dastardly act of terror.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the blast and termed the incident deeply regrettable.
He requested a detailed report from the provincial police chief and ordered that the injured receive the best possible medical attention. He further directed security agencies to conduct immediate investigations and identify those responsible for the attack.
Afridi expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and assured that all possible support will be provided.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi requested a detailed report on the blast, according to a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Fazal Rahman. He contacted senior officials for updates on the incident and ordered that all possible medical attention be provided.
Expressing grief over the loss of life in the blast, Kundi called for immediate relief and support to the victims and their families.
This is not the first time that Mehsud, head of the Mehsud Peace Committee in South Waziristan, has been attacked.
In 2022, two suicide bombers attempted to attack him in his DI Khan office. Both attackers were killed outside the office and Peace Committee volunteers foiled the attempt.
Last month, three police officers were killed in a bomb attack targeting a police vehicle in DI Khan.
The district witnessed one of the worst attacks in recent times in November last year when six policemen, including trainees, were martyred while 12 other policemen and a civilian were injured following a terrorist attack on the Police College.
Strategically located at the crossroads of Balochistan, Punjab and KP, DI Khan has long been a focal point of militant violence.
The district has witnessed a rise in attacks since 2020, with 111 reported incidents resulting in the death of 71 police officers and injuries to 100 others.
Between 2020 and 2025, DI Khan witnessed a fluctuating pattern of attacks. In 2020, six attacks killed four police officers and injured two. The following year, 13 attacks left three dead and four injured.
The violence escalated in 2022, with 24 attacks killing 19 officers and injuring 27, peaking in 2023 with 39 attacks claiming seven lives and injuring 27. Although attacks dropped to 17 in 2024, the number of casualties remained high and by December had 5 attacks, 5 and 2 officers killed. injured 16.
The Saraiki-speaking district of five tehsils borders Dera Ghazi Khan, Balochistan’s Zhob district and South Waziristan. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, when terrorism spread across Pakistan, Dera Ismail Khan was among the worst hit areas.
Sectarian violence began here in 1987 and continues today. Since 2007, terrorist incidents have claimed several lives, including senior police officers.
Last year, Pakistan saw more than a 25% increase in overall violence, recording at least 3,187 violence-related deaths and 1,981 injuries among civilians, security personnel and criminals, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies.
KP was the worst affected region, accounting for nearly 68% (2,165) of the country’s total violence-related deaths and over 62% (732) of all violence.
In KP, the security forces dominate the operational landscape. Deaths during security operations (1,370) exceeded deaths from terrorist attacks (795) by 72%, underscoring that large-scale counter-terrorism campaigns are the main driver of casualties in the province.
