Four members of a local peace committee were killed on Tuesday when armed assailants opened fire on their vehicle in the Gulbadin Landi Dak area of Bannu district, police said.
A senior district police official reported that all four victims, who were travelling together, died on the spot after the attackers launched indiscriminate firing. Among the deceased were a father and his son, while the identities of the remaining victims are being confirmed.
“An investigation has been launched to determine the motive behind the attack,” the official said, adding that it was too early to classify the incident as an act of terrorism.
Local sources noted that peace committees in the area have recently taken up arms in self-defence against militant groups, contributing to heightened tensions in parts of Bannu. These community-led groups have been increasingly targeted over the past year.
Attacks on peace committee members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been on the rise. In November 2025, seven people were killed when a peace committee office in Bannu came under attack. Earlier, in October, a member of a tribal peace committee was killed during a clash with militants in the Ahmadzai area of the district.
Security officials said they are working to trace the attackers and determine whether the latest assault is linked to previous attacks on community-led peace initiatives.
The incident underscores the growing security challenges faced by local communities attempting to resist militant influence in the region. Authorities have called for calm while investigations continue, and have urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement in the effort to maintain peace.
The killings mark another tragic chapter in Bannu’s ongoing struggle with militancy, highlighting the vulnerability of local peace efforts amid rising tensions in the area.