Cleric killed after explosion at supermarket in South Waziristan's Wana

A cleric was killed following an explosion, believed to be caused by a pressure bomb, at a supermarket in Wana, Lower South Waziristan. Police reported that the incident occurred on the ground floor of a supermarket in Rustam Bazaar.

Mufti Jana Mir Masti Khel sustained critical injuries in the blast and was rushed to the Wana district headquarters hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Wana Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asghar Ali Shah stated that initial investigations suggest the bomb was planted with the intention of targeting the cleric. Police have cordoned off the area and are collecting forensic evidence.

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Initial investigation suggested the bomb was planted to target the cleric.

DSP Shah confirmed that an initial complaint has been filed, and further investigations are underway to identify those responsible and ascertain the motive behind the attack. The incident is part of a disturbing pattern of violence in the region.

This killing occurred just three days after unidentified gunmen shot dead Maulana Ismail, a cleric affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), in Azam Warsak Bazaar. Previously, on July 28, a local cleric died and two others were injured in a suspected quadcopter attack near a mosque in the Landi Doag area. In January, JUI-F leader Maulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir was critically injured in a bomb blast near a madressah in Wana Bazaar and later died from his injuries.

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Police had filed an initial complaint and further investigation was under way to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the attack.