Slain tribal elder laid to rest

WANA: Prominent tribal elder and presidential award recipient Malik Abdul Khaliq Wazir was laid to rest in his ancestral village, Zeri Noor, on Saturday.

He was assassinated by unidentified gunmen outside the Wana Press Club a day earlier.

A large number of people, including political figures and social activists, attended the funeral of the slain elder, who was known for his fearless advocacy for tribal rights and social justice.

Addressing the gathering, religious scholar Maulana Issamuddin condemned the killing, calling it a “heinous crime” that demands swift justice.

The assassination, which took place in broad daylight near key security installations, including the local police lines, NADRA Centre, and press club, has raised serious concerns about the security situation in the region. Many attendees of the funeral questioned how such a high-profile figure could be targeted so close to major security posts without intervention.

Malik Abdul Khaliq Wazir’s family has long been in the crosshairs of violence, with at least eight of his relatives having fallen victim to similar attacks amid the ongoing fight against terrorism.