Bomb blast near KP’s Bajaur dam claims two lives

BAJAUR: Two people were killed in a remote-controlled bomb explosion near Tali small dam in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur tribal district on Saturday evening. According to police, unidentified persons had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) near the dam, falling in the limits of Salarzai police station. Local youth had gathered near the dam for refreshment when the IED exploded before sunset. Mansoor Khan, a spokesperson for district police, told Dawn that the victims were identified as Suleman Khan and Ghulam Khan, residents of Tali area, who were killed on the spot. He said that police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to collect evidence. “An investigation has been launched to determine the motive behind the blast and identify perpetrators, ” he said. Another police official Israr Khan told Dawn that search operation was under way in the area to hunt down the perpetrators of the explosion. Locals told this correspondent that Suleman Khan was a teacher at Government High School Pashat, the main town of Salarzai tehsil. An activist of Awami National Party alleged that the party’s spokesperson and peace activist Obaidullah Khan Salarzai might have been the target of the explosion, as he usually sat near the dam in the evening. However, he added that Obaidullah was safe. “I spoke to Obaid Salarzai. He was at home when the blast took place, ” MPA Mohammad Nisar Baz Khan said in a social media post. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Bajaur Amn Jirga head Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, PML-N leader Shahabuddin Khan, JUI-F’s Maulana Abdur Rasheed and ANP’s Gul Afzal Khan condemned the blast. Meanwhile, scores of locals including MNA Mubarakzeb Khan and MPA Anwarzeb Khan visited the area to express solidarity with the bereaved families. Also in the day, a man was killed in a firing incident in Chahargori area of Salarzai. According to police and locals, the victim identified as Aslam Khan was on his way when unidentified assailants opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. A police official told Dawn that the slain person had an enmity. Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026

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