SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The district administration and police on Thursday temporarily closed and evacuated Wana’s Rustam Bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan, suspending commercial activities in the area as a precautionary measure after receiving credible information related to security threats.
According to police officials, all shopkeepers and civilians present in the market were instructed to immediately leave the area, while business activities were completely halted as soon as information related to the potential threats was received.
District Police Officer (DPO) South Waziristan Lower, Muhammad Tahir Shah, said that the law enforcement agencies had acted promptly upon receiving threat alerts.
“Based on intelligence inputs regarding possible security risks, it was decided to temporarily shut down Wana Rustam Bazaar,” he stated, adding that adjoining areas were also cleared as part of the security plan.
The DPO further said that additional contingents of police and security forces had been deployed in the area to maintain strict control over the situation.
All forms of movement within the bazaar were temporarily restricted, and checkpoints were placed on entry and exit routes to prevent unauthorised access.
“Traders and residents cooperated fully with the administration and law enforcement agencies by vacating the market without resistance,” the DPO added.
He appealed to citizens and the trader community to continue following police and administrative directives and to avoid visiting sensitive areas unnecessarily until the situation was declared safe.
Following the closure of the market, police launched a comprehensive search operation in the area. Officials said that bomb disposal squads were engaged in checking suspected locations, while surveillance was tightened at all internal and external access points, and the area remained under close monitoring.
Police said the security situation was being reviewed continuously and that the decision to reopen the bazaar would be taken only after “complete clearance and elimination of potential threats”.
“Public safety is our top priority, and no compromise will be made in this regard,” a police official said.
The country has seen a surge in terrorism since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire deal with the government in November 2022, vowing to increase attacks. Islamabad says that the group has since been using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
The law and order situation in both North and South Waziristan has particularly deteriorated, with police reporting a noticeable increase in terrorist attacks, such as bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on police and security forces’ checkposts.
These incidents have posed serious challenges to law enforcement agencies and created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among the local population. Residents say that recurring incidents have severely disrupted daily life and heightened concerns about personal safety.
Traders and residents have expressed concern over the frequent suspension of business activities due to security alerts. They say repeated closures of markets have resulted in financial losses and added to economic hardships.
Other social activities have also been adversely affected, further compounding difficulties for the local population.
