KARACHI: A roadside bomb explosion in Pakistan’s Lower South Waziristan district on Monday killed at least three people, including influential tribal elder Malik Tariq Wazir, and injured four others, according to local authorities.

The blast struck the crowded Rustam Bazaar area in Wana when a vehicle carrying Tariq was passing near Gulshan Plaza. Officials said an improvised explosive device planted overnight detonated in the morning, triggering panic across the market and forcing shops to shut temporarily.

Police sealed off the area after the attack and launched a search operation to identify those responsible. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana, where doctors said two victims remained in critical condition.

Tariq, chief of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, was considered a prominent figure in tribal mediation and peace-building efforts in the region. He had previously been abducted by armed men in late 2024 before being released through mediation by tribal leaders.

The attack comes amid rising violence in Pakistan’s tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. Earlier this month, three children were killed in separate attacks in South Waziristan, while tribal elders in North Waziristan and Bajaur were also targeted in recent weeks.