Suicide Blast Targets Wedding at Peace Committee Leader’s Home in Northwest Pakistan

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A festive wedding celebration in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province turned into a scene of tragedy on Friday night, January 24, 2026, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the residence of a local peace committee leader. The attack occurred near Qureshi Morr in the Dera Ismail Khan district, at the home of Noor Alam Mehsud. According to District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada, guests were reportedly dancing when the bomber struck, with the force of the explosion causing a roof to collapse.

The structural failure trapped several victims under heavy debris, significantly complicating initial rescue efforts as emergency teams worked to reach those buried beneath the rubble. Emergency services, including seven ambulances and specialised disaster vehicles from Rescue 1122, arrived shortly after the blast to transport victims to the District Headquarter Hospital, where an emergency has been declared.

Spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi confirmed that five bodies were recovered and ten others were injured in the attack. Among the deceased is prominent peace committee leader Waheedullah Mehsud, also known as Jigri Mehsud. In the aftermath, security forces cordoned off the area to launch a formal investigation into the breach, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the violence and sought an immediate report from the provincial inspector general, vowing to bring those responsible to justice.

This bombing is the latest in a worrying surge of violence targeting community leaders who cooperate with the state against regional militancy. Earlier this month, four peace committee members were killed in the Bannu district, following a similar attack in November 2025 that claimed seven lives. These committees, often comprised of local tribesmen and former militants who have surrendered to the state, have increasingly become high-profile targets for insurgent groups. As authorities continue to clear the site of Friday's blast, the provincial government remains on high alert for further retaliatory strikes against civil defence leaders in the region.