In a brazen act of terror, a suicide bomber struck a wedding party in Pakistan’s volatile Dera Ismail Khan, killing six people and wounding many more. The late-night assault on Friday occurred at the residence of peace committee chief Noor Alam Mehsud, turning a moment of family bliss into horror.
Reports from Geo News indicate the explosion caused widespread injuries, with victims rushed to nearby hospitals. Police suspect Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) involvement, given Mehsud’s anti-militant stance. The bomber’s detonated vest left his head intact at the scene, aiding identification efforts.
Security forces launched a manhunt, collecting evidence under tight security. Chief Minister Sohail Afriidi expressed profound grief, instructing officials to spare no resources in treating the injured and hunting down the culprits. He labeled the incident a ‘cowardly assault on peace.’
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring Balochistan, sharing borders with Afghanistan, have endured a spike in bombings and shootings. Last year’s violence statistics are alarming: over 3,000 deaths nationwide, predominantly in this province, marking a 25% rise from previous years.
Mehsud has long been in militants’ crosshairs. A prior 2022 suicide attempt on his office failed when attackers were neutralized. Just weeks ago, a roadside bomb claimed three police lives in the same district. This latest outrage underscores the urgent need for bolstered counter-terrorism measures amid rising instability.