Draft:2024 North Waziristan Barbers Murders

2024 North Waziristan Barbers' Murders refers to the incident where six barbers from Punjab, Pakistan, were found shot to death in fields in North Waziristan. The victims, operating shops in Mir Ali, were abducted and later discovered dead. The incident, occurring in a region with increased militant presence, was declared a terror incident by District Police Officer Roohan Zeb Khan.

According to local journalist Haji Mujtaba, the barbers were kidnapped a day prior to their tragic deaths. No specific group has claimed responsibility yet. The presence of armed militants, especially from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has risen significantly in the tribal districts post the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.

The TTP previously imposed strict grooming restrictions in Pakistan similar to those during the Taliban's prior rule in Afghanistan. However, it's unclear if the barbers were targeted for their profession. Pamphlets forbidding certain hairstyles have been circulating in the region in recent months.

In a statement, the TTP denied involvement in the incident.

The incident occurred amid a surge in terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the former tribal belt. The situation has escalated as the country approached nationwide elections.