The bodies of the six men were discovered in the village of Muski, located in Mir Ali. Preliminary investigation suggests that the victims, all of whom were originally from South Punjab, were shot dead.
The slain individuals were all barbers, having recently migrated to North Waziristan to pursue their trade. Sources reveal that the in Wana victims operated barber shops in Mir Ali Bazaar.
The bodies have been transferred to Mir Ali Hospital for further examination, and the police have initiated investigations after collecting evidence from the crime scene.
The motive behind the brutal act remain unclear.
On December 22, five labourers were killed and a watchman was injured by unidentified gunmen while they were sleeping in South Waziristan’s Wana.
According to the locals of the area, the victims were constructing a police station. At night when they were asleep in their tent, unidentified gunmen shot them dead and fled.
Among the dead, three labourers belonged to the Burki tribe of Shikai and two to the Wazir tribe of Suparkai. The bodies were shifted to the hospital for post-mortem.
Security forces on Tuesday killed four terrorists including a suicide bomber during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa North Waziristan district, the military said.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, the operation was conducted on the reported presence of terrorists, adding that they remained involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces.
ISPR said that the terrorists were planning to conduct a high-profile terrorist attack, which was averted due to proactive response by the security forces.
Arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from killed terrorists, it added.
“Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” the statement further said.
Throughout 2023, security forces executed 18,736 IBOs across Pakistan, resulting in the neutralization of 566 terrorists and the arrest of 5,161 others.
While evidence linked recent terrorist incidents to sanctuaries in Afghanistan, effective intelligence operations contributed to the reintegration of key figures into the national mainstream.
Gulzar Imam Shambay and Sarfraz Bangulzai, notable commanders of the banned Baloch National Army, abandoned terrorism, demonstrating potential for rehabilitation and reconciliation.
Operations in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Sindh intensified, leading to significant results. Balochistan witnessed 15,063 IBOs, resulting in the elimination of 109 terrorists. In K-P, 1,942 operations eliminated 447 terrorists.
Additionally, 14 IBOs took place in G-B, and 1,987 in Sindh, resulting in the elimination of 10 terrorists. Punjab saw 190 operations. However, the fight against terrorism came at a cost, with over 1,000 individuals, including more than 260 army officers and soldiers, sacrificing their lives in terror attacks.
Despite these sacrifices, Pakistan's forces continue efforts to ensure peace, fostering hope for a future marked by stability and prosperity. With unwavering public support, Pakistan remains committed to eliminating terrorism and promoting enduring peace and stability.
