Five peace committee members martyred; Police claim recovering bomber’s severed head; High alert declared in hospitals
The body of a suicide blast victim is being taken to a hospital. Photo: Express
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A suicide bombing ripped through a wedding ceremony at the residence of peace committee leaders near Qureshi Mor in Dera Ismail Khan, killing five members of the peace committee and injuring seven others, police confirmed on Friday night.
District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada, while sharing initial details with the media, said the attack took place during an ongoing wedding ceremony at the house of peace committee leaders.
He confirmed that five people were killed on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for immediate medical treatment.
According to police and security officials, the severed head of the suicide bomber, believed to be a 17-year-old, was recovered from the blast site and taken into custody for forensic examination and identification.
Investigation teams and forensic experts remained at the scene, collecting evidence to establish the attacker’s identity and trace the network behind the attack.
The explosion occurred at the height of wedding festivities, abruptly plunging the household into mourning.
Police and rescue teams swiftly cordoned off the site, while hospitals were placed on high alert to ensure uninterrupted treatment of the wounded.
Officials said investigations were underway to determine the motives behind the cowardly act of terrorism.
K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the blast, terming the incident deeply regrettable.
He sought a detailed report from the provincial police chief and directed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical care. He further instructed security agencies to carry out immediate investigations and identify those responsible for the attack.
Afridi expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, assuring that all possible support will be provided.
K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi requested a detailed report on the blast, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Dr Fazal Rahman. He contacted senior officials to get updates on the incident, directing that all possible medical assistance be provided.
Expressing his grief over the loss of lives in the blast, Kundi called for immediate relief and support for the victims and their families.
This is not the first time Mehsud, head of the Mehsud Peace Committee in South Waziristan, has been targeted.
In 2022, two suicide bombers attempted to attack him at his DI Khan office. Both attackers were killed outside the office, and volunteers of the peace committee successfully foiled the attempt.
Last month, three police officers were killed in a bomb attack targeting a police vehicle in DI Khan.
The district saw one of the worst attacks in recent times in November last year, when six policemen, including trainees, were martyred, while 12 other policemen and one civilian were injured after a terrorist attack on the Police Training School.
DI Khan, strategically located at the junction of Balochistan, Punjab and K-P, has long been a focal point of militant violence.
The district has witnessed a rise in attacks since 2020, with 111 reported incidents resulting in the deaths of 71 police officers and injuries to 100 others.
Between 2020 and 2025, DI Khan witnessed a fluctuating pattern of attacks. In 2020, six attacks killed four police officers and injured two. The following year, 13 attacks left three dead and four wounded.
Violence escalated in 2022, with 24 attacks killing 19 officers and injuring 27, and peaked in 2023 with 39 attacks claiming seven lives and wounding 27. Though attacks dropped to 17 in 2024, casualties remained high, and as of December 2025, 12 attacks have killed 15 officers and injured 16.
The Saraiki-speaking district of five tehsils borders Dera Ghazi Khan, Balochistan’s Zhob district, and South Waziristan. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when terrorism spread across Pakistan, Dera Ismail Khan was among the hardest-hit areas.
Sectarian violence began here in 1987 and continues today. Since 2007, terrorist incidents have claimed numerous lives, including senior police officers.
Last year, Pakistan witnessed more than a 25% surge in overall violence, recording at least 3,187 violence-linked fatalities and 1,981 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and criminals, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies.
K-P was the worst-hit region, accounting for nearly 68% (2,165) of the country’s total violence-linked fatalities and over 62% (732) of all incidents of violence.
In K-P, security forces dominate the operational landscape. Fatalities during security operations (1,370) exceeded those from terrorist attacks (795) by 72%, highlighting that large-scale counter-terrorism campaigns are the main driver of casualties in the province.
