Muhammad Ismail Attacked After Friday Prayers
Religious scholar Muhammad Ismail, who was affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, was shot dead in Lower South Waziristan.
The attack occurred in the Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil shortly after Friday prayers.
Lower South Waziristan District Police Officer Muhammad Tahir said unidentified attackers approached Ismail on a motorcycle.
The armed men opened fire and killed him at the scene. They escaped before police could arrest them.
Police and other law enforcement personnel later reached the area. Officers collected evidence and began searching for the attackers.
No group has claimed responsibility for the killing. The motive behind the attack also remains unknown.
Police Launch Investigation From All Angles
Police registered an initial case and launched a formal investigation into the targeted shooting.
The district police chief said investigators were examining the incident from every possible angle.
Authorities are expected to review local intelligence, possible security threats and Ismail’s movements before the attack.
Police may also examine whether the killing was connected to his religious, political or teaching activities. However, no official conclusion has been announced.
Local tribal elders and police officials said Ismail was a resident of Kazha Panga.
He was also working as a teacher at a religious seminary in the area.
The killing has caused concern among residents and religious communities in Lower South Waziristan.
The Express Tribune reported that security forces launched a search operation after the attack. It also said the district administration imposed movement restrictions in Wana tehsil amid wider security concerns.
Latest Attack Follows Killings of Other JUI-F Figures
Ismail’s death follows several attacks targeting religious scholars and JUI-F leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In May, respected religious scholar and former JUI-F provincial legislator Muhammad Idrees was killed in Charsadda.
Unidentified attackers opened fire on him before fleeing the area.
Earlier in January, JUI-F leader Sultan Muhammad Wazir died after being seriously wounded in a bomb attack near a religious seminary in Wana Bazaar.
Police said a remotely controlled explosive device had been placed near the seminary to target Wazir.
Investigators collected evidence from the blast site and launched an operation to identify those responsible.
JUI-F leaders have repeatedly expressed concern over attacks targeting their representatives and religious scholars.
They have also called for stronger security measures, improved intelligence operations and the arrest of those involved in targeted killings.
The latest incident has again raised questions about public safety in Lower South Waziristan.
Residents are now waiting for police to identify the attackers and establish the motive behind Ismail’s killing.
