Police actively investigating the gruesome murder of six barbers in the North Waziristan district, a region historically plagued by militant activity seeking to enforce strict Islamic law. The barbers were fatally shot late on Monday night outside their residence in the town of Mir Ali, raising fears among the local population.
District police chief Rokhan Zeb Khan confirmed the incident, stating that the barbers, who hailed from the neighboring province of Punjab, were shot in the head. The victims, not local residents, were residing together near their grooming service outlets. In the past, outsiders in the region have been targeted based on allegations of espionage for Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies.
The attack occurred amidst a surge in militant activities, notably attributed to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, the TTP denied involvement in the killings in a statement released by its spokesman, leaving the responsible group unidentified.
Expressing deep concern, a local barber shop owner in Miranshah, another town in North Waziristan, revealed heightened fear among non-local barbers. Living in rooms or shops without personal security, they face increased vulnerability.
The unsettling incident adds to the security challenges faced by Pakistani political leaders, especially in the northwest, ahead of the upcoming national elections next month. The prevailing environment of fear raises questions about the feasibility of conducting proper elections in the region.
