WANA, South Waziristan — A remote-controlled bomb targeting a police vehicle ripped through the bustling Rustam Bazaar area of Wana on Thursday, killing two and injuring at least 15 others, including two police officers.
The explosion, confirmed by Lower South Waziristan police, occurred in a busy commercial hub during daylight hours. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Imranullah, the device had been planted specifically to strike law enforcement personnel.
Among the injured were Constables Zubair Salaam Khan and Fareedun Zubair, while at least one civilian was reported to be in critical condition. All victims were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana, District Police Officer (DPO) Tahir Khan told reporters.
Security forces immediately sealed off the area and launched a search operation to locate those responsible. Authorities are also working to identify the type of explosives used.
The blast follows repeated warnings from residents about the open display of weapons and unchecked movement of armed men in the area—concerns that had not been fully addressed prior to the attack.
Wave of Violence Intensifies Across KP
The Wana bombing is part of a wider escalation of militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the tribal districts. Just a day earlier, the convoy of Upper South Waziristan’s Deputy Commissioner Asmatullah Wazir was ambushed in Ladha tehsil, injuring a police officer and one other.
On the same day, two separate shooting incidents in Peshawar and Karak left seven dead, including four security personnel and a police officer.
A recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed that July alone saw 82 militant attacks across the country—53 of which occurred in KP. The majority targeted security forces and police.
Wana, once relatively stable, has become a hotspot again. Earlier this week, a rocket attack aimed at a paramilitary Scout camp caused panic, although no injuries were reported. Last Sunday, clashes between a tribal family and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s Gul Bahadar faction led to three deaths, including two militant commanders.
Civilians and Police Repel Terrorist Assault in Bannu
Elsewhere in KP, a late-night assault on the Khuni Khel police post in Bannu was foiled by a coordinated response from police officers and local residents. One policeman was injured during the exchange, according to Bannu DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi.
Kulachi noted that the attack was carried out using both light and heavy weapons by fighters linked to the TTP and the Tehreek-i-Jihad Afghanistan (TTG), operating under the joint name Al-Ittihad al-Mujahideen.
Bannu has been a repeated target in recent weeks, including a quadcopter-led attack and an armed assault on a police checkpoint that left four dead—including three militants.
Govt Tightens Grip on E-Commerce with Stricter Tax Rules
In a separate development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced sweeping reforms aimed at boosting tax compliance across Pakistan’s growing e-commerce sector.
Under new amendments to the Sales Tax Act, online marketplaces (OMPs), courier services, and payment intermediaries are now responsible for collecting and reporting taxes on behalf of sellers—whether registered or not.
Key provisions include:
- Mandatory registration for all e-commerce sellers, including foreign businesses operating in or from Pakistan.
- Withholding responsibilities assigned to couriers for cash-on-delivery (COD) transactions.
- Penalties for platforms that fail to register sellers or deduct applicable taxes.
- Final tax treatment for small sellers (cottage industries and non-Tier-1 retailers) with no input tax adjustments allowed.
- Monthly reporting obligations for OMPs and intermediaries, detailing all seller transactions, tax deductions, and payment data.
The FBR has emphasized that these measures aim to curb widespread tax evasion in online commerce and pave the way for a more accountable, digital economy.
