Four unidentified armed assailants open fire on the cleric’s vehicle: District Police | KP police chief says JIT formed to probe the incident
Haqnawaz shinwari
PESHAWAR
A prominent religious scholar, Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai, was shot dead in a targeted attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda district on Tuesday morning, while two police constables were injured in the incident, police said.
According to district Charsadda police, the attack took place at around 8:10am within the jurisdiction of Utmankhel Police Station when four unidentified armed assailants riding two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle of the cleric, widely known as Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Idrees.
The scholar and the two accompanying police personnel were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (THQ). However, Maulana Idrees succumbed to his injuries en route, while constables Sher Alam and Parvez Khan were undergoing treatment.
Police immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, though the attackers managed to escape.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the incident and ordered the formation of joint investigation team (JIT) comprising officials of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police. Authorities said forensic evidence, including shell casings and CCTV footage, has been collected for investigation.
A three-member prosecution team has also been constituted to supervise legal proceedings in the case registered at the CTD police station Mardan. The team includes Senior Public Prosecutor Muhammad Irshad, Law Officer Sikandar Zaman, and Assistant Public Prosecutor Shahid Adil. It will ensure coordination with investigators and submit daily progress reports.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi condemned the attack, sought a detailed report from police authorities, and directed immediate steps to apprehend those responsible. He termed the incident deeply regrettable and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, stating that the government stands with them in this difficult time.
The provincial political leadership across party lines also strongly condemned the incident, urging the government to take pragmatic and effective measures to improve law and order in the province and ensure public safety. It is pertinent to mention that no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Inspector General of Police described Maulana Idrees’s religious and national services as “unforgettable” and assured that the perpetrators would soon be traced and brought to justice, reiterating that all available resources were being utilized to investigate the case.
