CHARSADDA: Unknown armed motorcyclists, believed to be terrorists associated with Fitna al Khawarij, on Tuesday shot and killed a prominent religious scholar and leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) in Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to initial reports, Hafiz Abdul Salam Arif a prominent cleric and leader of Maulana Fazalur Rehman’s party was on his way when unidentified motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire on him. He was killed on the spot as a result.
Security forces and police promptly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area to secure evidence and prevent further incidents. The attackers drove off after committing the crime.
Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the targeted killing. Local political and religious leaders condemned the attack, calling for justice and heightened security for public figures and clerics in the region.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have seen a surge in terror attacks and targeted killings since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul.
Following their return, Indian proxies — Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan — along with other militant groups, have reportedly entered into a nexus to undermine development and peace in Pakistan.
In August, tribal leader Mir Khizar Hayat Shahwani was found dead in the Askalko Gowandan area of Kalat district.
Police officials told local media that Shahwani was kidnapped a few days earlier from his home by militants affiliated with the banned, Indian-funded terrorist outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). His body was later discovered in the area, apparently killed by the BLA militants.
