In yet another grim reminder of the deteriorating security situation in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three prominent elders of the Marwat-Bettani Qaumi Tehreek Waliullah, Farmanullah, and Ataullah were found shot dead, two days after being abducted by Khawarij near Bannu Cantonment.
According to local sources, the tribal elders had been returning from a visit to Baran Dam, where they were engaged in discussions over the region’s water distribution issues. Armed Khawarij intercepted their vehicle and abducted them, taking them to an undisclosed location. Their bodies were later discovered riddled with bullets on a roadside near Tochi Bridge, Bannu, sending shockwaves across Lakki Marwat and adjoining districts.
Locals have accused the police and security institutions of negligence, claiming that despite being informed of the abduction, authorities failed to act decisively. “For two days, the administration remained a silent spectator while these respected elders were in captivity,” a community member said, expressing outrage over what he termed a complete collapse of state writ in the area.
The brutal murders have triggered widespread grief, anger, and fear among residents, with large crowds attending the victims’ funerals and demanding immediate accountability. The slain elders were widely respected figures who had been mediating local disputes and advocating for peaceful development projects, including Baran Dam.
The incident underscores the alarming resurgence of Khawarij networks in the southern belt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where targeted attacks, kidnappings, and ambushes have increased sharply in recent months. Despite repeated assurances, the government’s response remains inadequate, allowing extremist elements to operate with impunity.
Local leaders have demanded a comprehensive counterterrorism operation and called on the state to protect its citizens rather than abandon them to the mercy of Khawarij. “Our patience has limits,” one elder said. “If the state cannot defend its people, it must be held accountable for its silence.”
