Authorities impose 30-day restriction on movement of people, vehicles in restive Pakistani district

Arab News

21 hours ago

ISLAMABAD: Local administration has imposed a 30-day restriction on the movement of people and vehicles from dusk till dawn in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, following the killing of 13 Pakistani soldiers in a suicide attack.
The suicide attack, claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban, also injured 29 people, including civilians, in the volatile district that borders Afghanistan, local government and police officials said on June 28.
Since late 2022, Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in its northwest, where the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, law enforcers and government officials.
There was a need to restrict all kinds of movement within North Waziristan in the interest of 'public safety, law and order, movement of security forces and [to] restrict the movement of outlaws,' according to the North Waziristan deputy commissioner's office.
'I... hereby impose a ban on all kinds of movement of individuals, vehicles and all forms of traffic within the territorial jurisdiction of District North Waziristan, including all major roads, bypasses, link roads, streets, public gathering areas, bazaars, business centers, playgrounds from dusk to dawn (just after Maghreb prayers all the night till the sunrise) to prevent any untoward incidents, ensure smooth public administration,' Deputy Commissioner Yousaf Karim said in a notification.
The official requested public to comply with the order.
'Any person (s) found violating this order shall be liable for legal action,' read the notification issued on June 29. 'THIS ORDER shall come into force at once and remain in force for a period of 30 days from the date of issuance unless modified or rescinded earlier.'
The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the TTP. Authorities also imposed a curfew in North Waziristan, along with South Waziristan and Tank districts, in March this year.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.
Militant attacks in Pakistan more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the hardest-hit provinces, accounting for over 96 percent of attacks and fatalities.