Seven people were killed after armed assailants stormed the office of a local peace committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Friday, police said. The attack targeted a baithak (guesthouse) used by the committee, a civilian-led body formed to support law enforcement in countering militancy in the region.
Police officials told Dawn that one of the victims was a so-called “good Talib” — a term used for former militants who surrendered to the state — while the remaining victims were his relatives. Authorities believe the attackers specifically targeted the ex-militant due to his association with the peace committee.
While the victims’ family has stated in their complaint that the attack stemmed from a personal feud, police officials suspect the family put forward this explanation to avoid further retaliatory violence, noting that such committees have been frequent targets of militant groups in the past.
A first information report (FIR) was registered at Havaid police station under Sections 302, 324, 149 and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, the suspects entered the guesthouse, opened indiscriminate fire, and fled. Three individuals were nominated in the complaint, which stated that they were accompanied by several armed men led by a terrorist commander. The complainant, Abdullah, cited a longstanding enmity related to a previous murder case.
Seven members of a pro-government peace committee were killed in an attack by the militants in #Bannu, #KhyberPakhtunkhwa , according to police sources. Heavily armed men launched an overnight attack on the office of Qari Jalil that led to a clash. According to local journalist… pic.twitter.com/Jpqq7R9vnU
— Tahir Khan (@taahir_khan) November 21, 2025
Peace committees — also known as village defence committees — were established to support security forces in protecting local communities, especially in areas vulnerable to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks. Members, including former militants aligned with the state, have repeatedly been targeted over the years.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “strongly condemned” the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism carried out by Fitna-al-Khawarij — the state’s term for the banned TTP — APP reported. He expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the victims, directing authorities to identify and punish the perpetrators.
“Such cowardly acts, aimed at sabotaging peace efforts, expose the evil intentions of the Fitna-al-Khawarij,” the statement said. “The entire nation stands united to defeat anti-state elements.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack as a “nefarious attempt to undermine peace and stability,” offering condolences to the affected families and reiterating that the state and people remain resolute against terrorism.
