Religious scholar dies in South Waziristan blast

A prominent religious scholar, Mufti Jana Mir, was killed in a bomb explosion in Lower South Waziristan, police confirmed on Monday.

DSP Wana Circle Asghar Ali Shah said that the explosion occurred on the ground floor of a supermarket located in the busy Rustam Bazaar.

Mufti Mir sustained critical injuries in the blast and was immediately shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, the police officer added.

Soon after the incident, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area. The investigators collected forensic evidence and launched an inquiry into the attack.

DSP Wana said preliminary findings suggested that the bomb was planted in advance with the apparent intention of targeting Mufti Mir.

He said that further investigations were underway to determine those responsible for the attack and the motive behind it.

The incident comes just three days after unidentified gunmen shot dead Maulana Ismail, a leader affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), in Azam Warsak Bazaar of Birmal tehsil.