- Attackers used bikes to ambush cleric’s car.
- CCTV footage and forensic proof collected by police.
- President, PM condemn killing, vow motion towards perpetrators.
Famend non secular scholar and former Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA Maulana Sheikh Muhammad Idrees was shot useless in a focused assault in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda district, police mentioned on Tuesday.
In response to police, the incident occurred within the Utmanzai space when the cleric was on his manner from dwelling to his madrassa. Unidentified assailants opened hearth, killing him on the spot.
District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Waqas confirmed that two police personnel assigned to his safety have been additionally injured within the assault and have been later shifted to Peshawar for therapy.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the killing, providing condolences to the household and prayers for the deceased. Each leaders reiterated that acts of terrorism couldn’t weaken the nation’s resolve and vowed continued motion towards militant components.
Police mentioned the attackers, using two bikes, carried out the assault at round 8:10am, firing a number of rounds on the cleric’s car. He succumbed to his accidents whereas being transported to the hospital.
Inspector Normal of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed mentioned investigations have been underway from all angles. He added that CCTV footage from the world had been obtained, whereas shell casings and different proof had been collected from the crime scene and despatched for forensic evaluation.
Authorities mentioned photographs of the suspects had been retrieved with the assistance of Secure Metropolis cameras, and a number of police groups, together with the Counter-Terrorism Division (CTD) and district police, had been fashioned to arrest these concerned. Raids are being performed at numerous areas.
The Central Police Workplace described the incident as a deliberate focused killing, noting that the attackers had trailed the cleric’s car for a while earlier than opening hearth. Officers mentioned 9 9mm bullet casings have been recovered from the scene.
In the meantime, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the killing and sought an in depth report from police authorities. He expressed grief over the incident, supplied condolences to the bereaved household, and directed that the injured personnel be supplied the very best medical care.
Individually, IGP Hameed additionally sought a report from the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Mardan, whereas the Central Police Workplace confirmed that an preliminary report had already been submitted.
‘Provincial govt accountable’
JUI-F provincial emir Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman held the provincial authorities answerable for the cleric’s killing, warning that continued assaults on non secular students have been unacceptable and would set off province-wide protests.
Talking to the media, Rehman mentioned that whereas loss of life is inevitable for all, sure people are granted elevated standing. He strongly condemned the assault on Sheikh Idrees and questioned why non secular students have been being systematically focused and killed.
He mentioned such incidents have been now not tolerable and warned that if rulers, the federal government, and the state failed to offer safety to residents, they’d no justification to stay in energy. He reiterated that Maulana Idrees was a member of the JUI-F shura and a revered non secular determine.
The JUI-F chief mentioned his occasion had at all times opposed the federal government on rules however remained dedicated to serving the nation and its folks. “Nobody can cease us from serving the nation,” he added.
Criticising the provincial administration, Rehman mentioned its agenda was restricted to launching actions towards the centre as an alternative of addressing legislation and order within the province. He urged authorities to “take management of the province and concentrate on making certain safety,” warning that terrorism was current and required pressing consideration.
He introduced that protests can be held throughout all districts towards rising insecurity, including that the provincial authorities, which had been in energy for 13 years, had did not ship for its folks.
He additional introduced {that a} protest can be staged tomorrow towards each the provincial and federal governments, demanding speedy steps to make sure public security.
Assaults on non secular students and political figures have occurred up to now as effectively.
In current incidents, non secular chief Pir Ibrahim was killed in Charsadda in July 2025, whereas ANP chief Maulana Khan Zeb was shot useless in Bajaur the identical month.
Earlier, a mosque assault in Akora Khattak claimed the lifetime of JUI chief Hamidul Haq Haqqani, whereas one other assault in South Waziristan injured JUI district emir Maulana Abdullah Nadeem.
