Five people were found shot dead in a village near Dera Ismail Khan, according to the police. The victims appeared to be non-locals and were riding on two separate trucks, one carrying foam mattresses and the other vegetables. The identities of four of the deceased remain unknown, while the fifth was identified as Arif, a resident of Karak. The incident comes days after six non-local young barbers were killed in an incident of sinister violence that seeks to capitalize on ethnic fault lines in North Waziristan tribal district. The victims, all of whom hailed from Punjab, were shot dead execution-style. The victims, all below 30 years of age, included two youths less than 18 years old, hence without national identity cards (NICs). All of them were barbers, having recently migrated to North Waziristan to pursue their trade.
The recent incidents of violence in Pakistan are a cause for concern, particularly as they appear to be targeting non-locals. The international community must continue to call for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Pakistani government must take steps to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or background.
