CHARSADDA: Prominent religious scholar and former JUI-F lawmaker Maulana Sheikh Muhammad Idrees was shot dead in a targeted attack in Charsadda on Tuesday, according to police.
The incident took place in the Utmanzai locality as he was heading from his residence to a madrassa. Gunmen riding motorcycles ambushed his vehicle and opened fire, killing him at the scene. Two police personnel assigned to his security were also wounded and later shifted to Peshawar for medical treatment.
District Police Officer Muhammad Waqas confirmed the attack, while investigators said it appeared to be a premeditated assassination. Authorities collected forensic evidence from the site, including multiple bullet casings, and reviewed CCTV footage to identify the suspects. Police teams, along with the Counter-Terrorism Department, have launched raids to apprehend those responsible.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing, expressing grief and extending condolences to the victim’s family. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism and maintaining national security.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said the investigation is underway from multiple angles, with assistance from Safe City surveillance systems to trace the attackers.
Reacting to the incident, JUI-F leader Maulana Ataur Rehman blamed the provincial government for failing to ensure security, warning of widespread protests if such attacks continue. He described the slain cleric as a respected religious figure and member of the party’s leadership council.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the attack and directed authorities to submit a detailed report, while instructing that the injured officers receive the best possible care.
The killing adds to a string of recent attacks targeting religious and political figures across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising fresh concerns over the province’s security situation.
