A clash between Pashtun activists and local militants on Sunday killed two people and wounded 25 others in a restive tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said. The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
Supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), which is led by young activist Manzoor Pashteen, wanted to hold a rally to protest against growing corruption in the tribal regions.
"The clash erupted after supporters of Manzoor Pashteen were stopped from holding a protest rally by local militants belonging to Maulvi Nazir group " a senior local administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The Pashtun activists torched two offices of the militants, which led to an exchange of fire, killing two people and wounding 25 others, the official said.
Authorities were not immediately able to ascertain the identities of those killed and injured.
The local administration immediately imposed a curfew on the area to control the fast deteriorating situation, another local intelligence official, who confirmed the incident and casualties, told AFP.
Another official said efforts were underway to the bring the situation under control, adding the local administration was holding talks with the "two parties".
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