A prominent religious scholar and former lawmaker, Maulana Muhammad Idrees, was shot dead on Tuesday in Charsadda after unidentified attackers opened fire on his vehicle, police said.
According to officials, the cleric was traveling from his home in Tarangzai to Darul Uloom Noumania when armed assailants targeted his car in the Tariqabad Utmanzai area. Two police personnel accompanying him were also injured in the attack.
Authorities confirmed that CCTV footage of the incident has been obtained, and an investigation is underway. The body of the deceased was shifted to the district headquarters hospital.
Maulana Idrees was affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and served as a former Member of the Provincial Assembly. He was regarded as a close associate of party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The slain cleric also came from a family previously affected by militancy. His father-in-law, Maulana Hassan Jan, was killed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for opposing armed struggle.
Senior officials reacted strongly to the incident. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed took immediate notice and directed authorities to submit a report and ensure the arrest of those responsible.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the killing, stating that such acts of violence cannot weaken the nation’s resolve against terrorism. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and prayed for the victim’s family, while wishing a speedy recovery for the injured officers.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi both condemned the killing, calling it a tragic loss and demanding swift action.
Opposition leaders, including Aimal Wali Khan, criticized the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, warning that targeted killings and terrorism incidents are becoming increasingly frequent.
The attack highlights ongoing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where concerns about militancy and targeted violence continue to grow.
