Amid a sharp rise in Security Risks in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, government employees in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Waziristan are facing heightened risks, prompting local administrations to intensify safety protocols.
This cautionary move follows a series of recent incidents, including abductions and planned attacks, that have escalated fears of violence and instability across the region.Dera Ismail Khan’s Deputy Commissioner has issued directives to additional deputy commissioners, customs officials, and heads of government departments, urging them to exercise increased vigilance in response to credible intelligence on potential abductions targeting government employees and law enforcement personnel in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Reports indicate that key routes, notably the Bannu-DI Khan Road, DI Khan-Zhob Road, and DI Khan-Tank Road, are under threat from extremist groups suspected of planning to abduct public servants.
Employees are advised to limit non-essential travel, avoid using a single route repeatedly, and refrain from sharing travel plans. Specific routes, including those to Tank, Upper, and Lower Waziristan, as well as the Darazinda Road, are considered particularly vulnerable, with travel restricted unless clearance is obtained.
In a recent incident that underscored these security concerns, unidentified gunmen abducted three employees of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in North Waziristan’s Miran Shah area. The kidnapped individuals, identified as Hazrat Jaber, Sadirullah, and Gulzadeen, have since been moved to an unknown location, according to official sources.
Law enforcement agencies are working to locate the hostages and are monitoring regional routes to prevent further incidents.Tank and Waziristan authorities have issued similar advisories, underscoring the urgency for heightened security across these volatile regions.
To address the growing threats, law enforcement personnel in plainclothes have been deployed to sensitive sites, including government offices, schools, places of worship, and crowded public spaces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The provincial and federal governments are collaborating to fortify safety protocols, with particular attention to southern districts’ educational institutions.
Amid this wave of security concerns in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, public unease has intensified, spurring strong criticism from political figures. Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao recently condemned the increasing violence and recurring security lapses, attributing the issues to government negligence. In a statement, Sherpao expressed frustration over the provincial administration’s response to the surge in terrorism and targeted killings, lamenting that the instability has fueled widespread fear and uncertainty among residents.
He extended condolences to the affected families and emphasized that ensuring public safety is a shared responsibility of both provincial and federal authorities. Sherpao warned of serious consequences if immediate and effective actions are not taken to curb the rising violence.Meanwhile, in Bannu, a protest sit-in demanding the release of detainees under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) has entered its sixth day.
Demonstrators have insisted on written guarantees for the release of 360 detainees held under MPO, leading protest leaders to meet with Commissioner Abid Wazir and Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hamid. Local officials have assured the protesters that all detainees would be released simultaneously, and discussions addressed broader security issues.
The protesters further demanded the reinstatement of dismissed police officials, including former officer Jamshed Khan, and called for the implementation of 16 security measures raised in the provincial apex committee.
