In a disturbing development, the group led by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Shafiullah Haider, declared a seditious outfit by the state, has reportedly converted several mosques in the Mir Ali subdivision of North Waziristan into permanent hideouts and operational centres.
According to local sources, the militant group is deliberately exploiting the sanctity of mosques, aware that security forces avoid conducting operations inside places of worship out of respect for Islamic values. However, the mosques are not being used for spiritual or religious purposes. Instead, they serve as hubs for planning, sheltering, and coordinating terrorist activities.
Residents further reported that once these mosques fall under the group’s control, local worshippers are forcibly evicted and replaced by armed militants.
“This is not only a gross violation of the law but also a blatant desecration of Islam’s sacred spaces,” said one local resident, expressing the community’s deep frustration over the misuse of religious sites.
Locals have called on authorities to take urgent and decisive measures to reclaim these places of worship and uphold both national security and the sanctity of religious institutions.
