In a barbaric incident, militants belonging to the Fitna Al Khawarij group burned six people alive by setting their car on fire in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area, sources said on Wednesday.

The sources said that the incident happened after the occupants of the car refused to pay extortion money.

Militants first opened fire on the car and then doused it with petrol and set it ablaze, the sources said.

According to the sources, the assailants carried out the brutal attack to spread fear in the area. All six people inside the vehicle died on the spot.

Later, upon receiving information, local police and rescue teams reached the scene and shifted the charred bodies to a nearby hospital.

Eyewitnesses described the attack as extremely barbaric, saying the flames were visible from afar and caused panic among local residents.

Condemning the incident, area people termed it an act of sheer savagery by Fitna Al Khawarij, and urged the government and security forces to take immediate action.

They said such acts of violence could not be termed ‘holy war’ ad they were the brutal killing of innocent people.

Following the incident, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the attackers.

Residents have demanded that both federal and provincial authorities ensure safety in the region, protect innocent citizens, and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.