PESHAWAR – A former senior figure of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) has been shot dead in Bannu, as militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to escalate.
Dr Syed Wali, who previously served as the general secretary of JUI-F in Bannu, was abducted on 26 July while visiting his native village of Dargai. Police said he was seized by unidentified gunmen and taken to an abandoned house, where he was later killed. He had been living in the Chashma area of Bannu in recent months.
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No group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Police confirmed a case has been registered and investigations are ongoing.
The attack comes amid a surge in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has seen a sharp increase in targeted attacks, abductions, and armed clashes in recent years.
On 27 July, security forces reported the killing of two suspected militants during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu. Authorities have not disclosed the identities or affiliations of those killed, and no militant group has commented on the incident. The claims remain unverified.
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Earlier this month, on 9 July, militants launched an attack on personnel from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), torching a police vehicle. One officer and two civilians were injured in the ensuing firefight.
Bannu and other districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have become flashpoints for violence. Armed groups have repeatedly targeted police, security forces, government officials, political figures, religious scholars, tribal elders, and even rival militants. On 24 July, militants abducted two bank employees and their driver in Mirali, North Waziristan.
Despite the ongoing threat, security forces say they remain committed to counterterrorism operations. On 25 July, police claimed to have killed three suspected militants in an operation in Barikot, Swat.
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Speaking at a press conference in Swat earlier this month, provincial spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the government was actively fighting militant groups. He added that while there is no tolerance for violence, the state is open to dialogue with those who choose peaceful engagement.
The killing of Dr Wali has further stoked concern over the deteriorating security landscape. With militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the rise, the region’s fragile calm continues to be tested by recurrent attacks and political instability.
