Abduction, blast trigger fear in South Waziristan

WANA: The abduction of a police constable and the bombing of a girls’ school in Lower South Waziristan on Tuesday evening have heightened concern across the district, according to officials.

Police said Constable Sabeel Noor Wazir was heading home near the football ground in the Dogh area of Wana when unidentified armed men stopped him, forced him into a vehicle at gunpoint and took him to an undisclosed location. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wana Circle Asghar Ali Shah confirmed the incident and said an abduction case had been entered in the daily diary.

He said investigations were under way from several angles to recover the constable and arrest those responsible. The DSP added that law enforcement was employing all available means for the constable’s safe recovery.

Officials said Sabeel Noor Wazir was not only a policeman but also a well-known player at a local football club, making him a familiar figure in the area. After the kidnapping, security personnel increased patrolling at different points, while anxiety spread among residents.

Girls’ school destroyed

In a separate incident, police said unidentified attackers planted explosives at Government Girls’ High School Janan Kot in the Karki Kot area of Wana. According to officials, the explosives had been placed near the main gate and boundary wall, and the blast destroyed the school building.

DSP Asghar Ali Shah said a case had also been registered over the explosion and an investigation had been launched. The school was closed when the blast took place, and no casualties were reported, though the structure suffered extensive damage.

Local sources said the school had hundreds of female students enrolled and served as an important centre of girls’ education in the locality. Residents and parents voiced serious concern after the attack, saying the destruction of the building had raised fears about their daughters’ education.

Restrictions continue in North Waziristan

Meanwhile, Section 144 remained in force in Miran Shah tehsil of North Waziristan for an eighth straight day. The restrictions, combined with an ongoing security operation, suspension of communication services, closure of educational institutions and limits on movement, have disrupted daily life in the area.

Traffic on the Bannu-Miranshah highway remained restricted, while mobile phone and internet services were still suspended. Residents in several areas were also facing problems obtaining food and other basic necessities. Official sources said security forces were continuing operations in and around Miranshah, and that Section 144 would stay in place until the situation normalized.