Two tribal elders were shot dead by unidentified armed men in Lower South Waziristan on Sunday. The incident took place in the Zarmilan area of Toi Khulla tehsil, according to police officials.
The victims were travelling in a car from Gul Kach towards Zarmilan when gunmen opened fire at Darozanda. Both men suffered multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene, while the attackers fled after the shooting.
Lower South Waziristan District Police Officer Shah Hassan identified the deceased as Haji Gul and Malik Badshah.
Both victims belonged to the Suleman Khel tribe and were travelling together when the attackers targeted their vehicle.
Police Begin Probe Into Fatal Shooting
Following the attack, police filed a preliminary report at the Toi Khulla police station and launched an investigation.
Authorities are now working to identify the assailants and determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“Police have filed a preliminary report at the Toi Khulla police station and launched an investigation into the incident,” he said.
“Every aspect of the incident is being examined, and efforts are under way to trace and arrest the assailants.”
However, police have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack or identified any suspects.
The investigation will examine different aspects of the incident as authorities continue efforts to trace those responsible.
Lower South Waziristan Faces Continuing Security Challenges
The latest killings come amid continuing security challenges in Lower South Waziristan and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The region has witnessed targeted killings, bomb blasts, kidnappings for ransom and extortion in recent months.
Attacks against police and security personnel have also remained part of the wider security situation across the province.
At the same time, tribal elders and their family members have faced attacks in several incidents.
The latest shooting has therefore added to concerns surrounding the safety of prominent tribal figures in the area.
Tribal Figures Targeted in Earlier Incidents
The latest killings follow several attacks involving tribal elders and their family members in recent months.
In May 2026, tribal elder and Ahmadzai Wazir tribe chief Malik Tariq Wazir was among three people killed in an explosion.
The blast occurred near Gulshan Plaza in the busy Rustam Bazaar area of Wana.
Four other people were injured in the incident, which occurred as Tariq travelled through the market.
Police said explosives had allegedly been planted near the plaza during the night before being detonated in the morning.
Similarly, two sons of tribal elder Malik Jamil Wazir were shot dead near Kari Kot Bazaar in Wana tehsil in June 2026.
The two brothers were travelling on a motorcycle from their home towards Kari Kot Bazaar when armed men opened fire.
Both men died at the scene, while a passerby also sustained injuries during the attack. The assailants fled the area after the shooting, according to the available details.
Investigation Underway After Latest Attack
The deaths of Haji Gul and Malik Badshah have added another case involving tribal figures to the region’s recent security concerns.
Police have not yet established who carried out the attack or why the two men were targeted.
For now, investigators are focusing on tracing the unidentified gunmen and determining the circumstances behind the shooting.
Authorities have said every aspect of the incident is being examined as the investigation continues.
Further progress in the probe is expected to clarify the motive and identify those responsible for the killings.
