August 11, 2026
By Noor Ali Khan
WANA
A 45-year-old woman, a livestock herder, was brutally stoned to death by unidentified assailants on Wednesday, August 6. The incident took place in the Barmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan, a tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Pak-Afghan border town of Angoor Adda. The incident has left the entire area in mourning and stirred deep anxiety among local residents.
The incident occurred at KK Chowk, Zeerha Letha, in the Angoor Adda area, roughly 57 kilometers from Wana. According to family sources, the victim, Badama Bibi, was the wife of Zabit Khan son of Aziz Khan, and belonged to the Khojal Khel tribe.
Relatives said she had gone up a nearby mountain early in the morning, as she routinely did, to graze the family’s sheep and goats. At around 10 am, unidentified persons stoned her, inflicting severe injuries. When word reached the family, relatives and local residents recovered her body from the mountain at around noon; it bore deep wounds on several parts. The body was later moved to the family home.
A family member told Voicepk, it was the woman’s job to take care of the cattle.
“She used to go up the nearby mountains every day to graze the livestock and would normally be back home by midday,” said the relative. “When she didn’t return by the usual time that day, we went looking for her, and that’s when we found her body lying there on the mountain.”
He added that the family had no personal enmity with anyone and that the real motive behind the killing remains unknown. Relatives said Badama Bibi was a hardworking woman, and her children too earn their living through manual labor.
As soon as news of the killing spread, the family informed the nearest police post and the local security forces unit. Badama Bibi was later laid to rest in her ancestral village, where family members and her children bid her a grief-stricken farewell.
‘Instead of staying silent, we need to raise our voice’
Razia Mehsud, a social activist working for women’s rights, condemned the killing in the strongest terms, calling it deeply tragic and cruel.
“This kind of inhuman treatment of women is intolerable, and it is a moment of serious concern for the women of the tribal areas,” she said.
She called on political leaders, members of the national and provincial assemblies, and relevant institutions to take immediate notice of the incident and ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted under the law.
“Instead of staying silent over violations of women’s rights, we need to raise our voice for them,” she added.
Police sources said a case has been registered and an investigation launched, though no conclusive information has yet emerged regarding the motive or the identity of those involved. According to sources, the incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Angoor Adda police post and Raghzai police station. Teams have been formed to investigate, and evidence has been collected from the crime scene with the cooperation of the local security forces unit; further investigation is ongoing.
Malik Sultan Wazir, a member of the victim’s extended family, called the incident deeply tragic.
“Zabit Khan and Badama Bibi had nine children in total — five daughters and four sons. This is a poor household,” he said, and appealed to the government to ensure a transparent investigation as well as financial support for the affected family.
Various political and social circles in Wana expressed deep grief and concern over the incident, saying that targeting women in this manner was contrary to Pashtun social traditions. They demanded an impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts and bring those responsible to justice.
Local sources said the lack of communication facilities in Angoor Adda and adjoining areas made it difficult to obtain timely information and maintain contact, which also delayed the news from coming to light.
‘Effective measures on women’s rights and education are essential’
Imran Mukhlis, District General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party in Lower South Waziristan, said much still needs to be done in the area regarding women’s rights, education and basic facilities. “Effective measures to make women aware of their basic rights and to provide them with educational opportunities are essential,” he said.
Local sources said this is the first incident of its kind reported in the area, which has caused deep concern among residents.