Author: Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi MIRANSHAH: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Major General Adil Iftikhar Waraich, chaired a jirga with Utmanzai tribal elders and community leaders in Miranshah on Sunday to discuss security and cooperation between local communities and state institutions. The meeting, attended by representatives of the district administration, focused on the prevailing security situation in North Waziristan and ways to strengthen coordination between residents and government authorities. Welcoming the participants, Major General Waraich praised the role of tribal elders in supporting efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. According to officials, the jirga also discussed the…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Residents of Dera Ismail Khan and surrounding suburban areas staged a protest outside Islamia School on Monday against prolonged electricity outages and frequent power tripping, blocking a main road and causing lengthy traffic queues. The demonstration was led by Gul Malook Khan, Samiullah Khan and Hanan Nasir, with protesters chanting slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and demanding an immediate end to what they described as unannounced load-shedding and recurring power disruptions. The protesters said the outages were affecting Dera city, nearby neighbourhoods, the CRBC area, Mandhran, and consumers connected to the University Feeder. Residents…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A series of jirgas between Frontier Corps (South) commanders and tribal elders were held in different areas of South and North Waziristan, focusing on security challenges, public grievances and community development concerns, officials and local sources said. In one jirga held at Nishpa II in the Jannata area of South Waziristan, tribal elders discussed a recent firing incident at the Kazha post in which a child was injured. Security officials briefed participants on the overall law and order situation and warned that strict action would be taken against individuals involved in anti-state or disruptive…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi PESHAWAR: A solemn awards ceremony was held at the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar under the Frontier Corps (North), where military honours were conferred on the families of martyrs and serving officers in recognition of bravery, dedication and sacrifice. The ceremony was attended by Inspector General of Frontier Corps North Major General Rao Imran Sartaj, who was the chief guest and presented the awards, paying tribute to the martyrs and ghazis for their services to the nation. A total of 123 military awards were distributed during the ceremony. Of these, 98 families of martyrs were awarded the…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A farewell ceremony was held in honour of Abdul Nasir Khan on his transfer, who also served as chief executive officer of the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) Dera Ismail Khan. The event was attended by a large number of senior management officials, officers and staff members of the organisation. Speakers paid tribute to the outgoing deputy commissioner, saying he had taken effective steps during his tenure to improve institutional performance and played a key role in strengthening municipal services, particularly sanitation and public service delivery. They said several public welfare initiatives…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi BAJAUR: Two schoolboys were killed in a reported drone or quadcopter strike in the Shah Tangi area of Mamund tehsil in Bajaur district, according to local sources. Residents said the incident took place in the mountainous Shah Tangi area, around 25 kilometres from the district headquarters Khar. The children were returning home on foot after school when they were allegedly hit by an explosive device dropped from a drone. Local sources identified the victims as boys aged between 10 and 12 years. One of them was named as 10-year-old Hassan, son of Israr. Sources further claimed…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, killing four militants, including a high-value target identified as Umar alias Jan Mir, security sources said. Officials said the operation targeted a militant hideout where the suspects were allegedly involved in planning and facilitating attacks against security forces and civilians. Umar alias Jan Mir was described as a key militant commander in the region. He was reportedly involved in establishing underground bunkers, tunnels and improvised explosive device networks in the vicinity of Bobali Mosque in Spinwam, which were allegedly used…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi BAJAUR: Two police personnel deployed to protect a polio vaccination team were killed in separate firing incidents in Bajaur, underscoring once again the persistent security risks surrounding immunization campaigns in Pakistan’s north-western districts. According to a Deputy Superintendent of Police, the attacks took place in the Salarzai area, including Tabai and Dog Qila, where unidentified armed assailants opened fire on security escorts accompanying teams engaged in the ongoing anti-polio drive. The officers, identified as Qadir and Aziz, were killed in the line of duty while providing protection to health workers. Officials said the attackers fled the…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Division Daud Khan to discuss irrigation rights and the construction of spillways at the Ghasha Sindh site. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Highway Authority, the Directorate General of Small Dams, Assistant to Commissioner (Political and Development) Sajjad Baloch, and officials from the Irrigation Department, CRBC, Communication and Works, Flood Division, Rod Kohi and other relevant departments. During the session, detailed discussions were held on the irrigation rights of farmers in the Rod Luni area of Tehsil…
By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A protest rally was held under the banner of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam against the killing of Shaheed Sheikh-ul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Idrees in Dera Ismail Khan. The rally started from GPO Chowk and proceeded towards Topanwala, with a large number of party workers and local residents participating. It was led by District General Secretary Chaudhry Ashfaq Advocate, Qari Ejaz Farooqi, Qari Umair Farooqi, Naveed Ahmed Nizami, Hafiz Adil, Lal Khuroti, Jamal Abdul Nasir Advocate High Court and Amber Nawaz Advocate, along with other leaders. Participants carried banners and placards and raised slogans in tribute to…