Seven killed, three injured in twin IED blasts in Bannu

BANNU: At least seven people were killed and three others injured in two back-to-back improvised explosive device attacks on vehicles carrying local tribesmen in the Marka Bera area of Bannu district, police said.

According to police and local accounts, the first blast took place in Marka Bera, which falls within the limits of Ahmadzai Wazir Police Station. A Datsun carrying passengers was on its way to Domel when it hit an IED planted along the roadside. The explosion destroyed the vehicle, killing five people on the spot and leaving several others wounded.

Residents said the blast was heard over a wide area, and local people rushed to help the victims. During the rescue effort, however, a second explosion occurred when a car transporting the injured struck another IED about one kilometre from the site of the first blast. Two more people were killed in that explosion, and the vehicle was also destroyed, taking the death toll from the two attacks to seven.

Rescue 1122 teams carried out relief work amid security concerns. The bodies of those killed and the injured were shifted to Domel Rural Health Centre and Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital for treatment and legal formalities.

District Police Officer Yasir Afridi confirmed that seven people had been killed and three injured in the two explosions. He said law enforcement agencies had sealed off the area, gathered evidence from both blast sites and started a full investigation. According to police, initial evidence suggested the explosive devices had been planted by terrorists.

After the attacks, security forces launched a search operation in the area and began sweeping different locations over concerns that more explosive devices could be present.

An emergency jirga of Hathi Khel tribal elders and notables was also held after the incident to review the worsening security situation. The jirga voiced serious concern over rising violence and decided that suspicious activity would not be tolerated in the area. Tribal elders said any masked or suspicious person seen in the area would be treated as a threat and immediately targeted, saying the community could no longer endure more bloodshed and the killing of innocent people.

According to local sources, the Hathi Khel tribe has formed a tribal lashkar to help preserve peace and security in the region. Tribal members believe the existence of that peace force has made the community a recurring target of militant attacks. Local sources said concerns about law and order had grown in recent months, with residents feeling increasingly unsafe. The elders urged the government and security institutions to clear Marka Bera and nearby areas of militants and take effective steps to protect civilians.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately condemned the Bannu blast and expressed sorrow over the loss of civilian lives. They conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of the injured. The president said such incidents caused deep pain to the nation and warned internal and external handlers of terrorism who were providing safe havens, logistical support and financial backing to terrorist networks.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, Shehbaz directed the relevant authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. "Terrorism is a heinous conspiracy against humanity and against Pakistan's peace and stability. Such cowardly acts can never weaken the nation's resolve," he added.