Police in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province announced that a devastating suicide bombing turned a joyful wedding celebration into a scene of tragedy in Dera Ismail Khan district on Friday.
Kabul 24: According to official reports, the blast claimed at least seven lives and injured more than 25 people, with some sources initially reporting five to six fatalities before the toll rose due to the critical condition of several wounded victims.
The explosion occurred at the residence of Noor Alam Mehsud, a prominent local leader of a government-backed peace committee (also known as Lashkar-e-Aman or community defense groups) and an influential figure in the area.
Authorities confirmed that the suicide attacker, wearing an explosive vest, entered the crowded gathering where guests were dancing and celebrating, and detonated the device amid the festivities.
The target appeared to be members of the peace committee, which has long worked alongside security forces to counter militant groups operating in the border regions near Afghanistan.Eyewitness accounts describe a sudden, deafening blast that shattered the atmosphere of music and laughter.
Thick smoke and flames engulfed the building as screams filled the air and debris scattered everywhere.
Rescue teams, police, and bomb disposal units rushed to the scene, evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals. Medical staff have reported that a number of the wounded remain in serious condition, raising fears that the death toll could climb further.
This incident highlights the persistent security challenges in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Dera Ismail Khan, where militant groups have intensified attacks in recent months.
Peace committees, composed of local tribal elders and volunteers, have frequently been targeted by extremists who view their cooperation with the state as betrayal.
No group has yet claimed responsibility, though suspicion has fallen on factions opposed to anti-militancy efforts in the region.Officials strongly condemned the attack and vowed a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those behind it and their supporters.
The tragedy has plunged local communities into mourning, with grieving families burying their loved ones and residents left in shock over how a moment of happiness could so quickly turn into collective grief.
Protecting public gatherings and safeguarding peace activists has once again emerged as a critical priority for Pakistani authorities amid ongoing instability in these volatile border areas.
