In a significant show of defiance against Khawarij violence, residents of Azam Warsak in Tehsil Birmal, South Waziristan, successfully repelled an armed attack by Khawarij elements affiliated with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Gul Bahadur group.
According to local sources, the assailants stormed the residence of Malik Sardar Ali, a prominent elder of the Kari Khel tribe, in an apparent attempt to abduct him. However, the family of Malik Sardar Ali mounted a courageous armed resistance, killing two of the attackers on the spot.
One of the slain assailants has been identified as Zia Wazir, a notorious Khawarij linked to the TTP. Zia Wazir is known for his involvement in a previous mosque bombing that critically injured Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) District Ameer Maulana Abdullah Nadeem.
The failed abduction attempt triggered widespread outrage in the local community. Members of the Kari Khel tribe swiftly rallied at Malik Sardar’s home in a powerful display of unity and support, denouncing the continued presence and activities of Khawarij groups in the region.
Locals reiterated their demand for decisive state action to eliminate Khawarij networks, particularly the TTP and affiliated cells of Gul Bahadur, whose presence has increasingly destabilised parts of South Waziristan.
This latest incident highlights the growing role of local communities in resisting Khawarij violence in Pakistan’s tribal districts, amid rising concerns over renewed threats to peace and security in the region.
