Bajaur: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Maulana Khan Zeb and a police officer were gunned down by unidentified assailants on Thursday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, police officials confirmed.
District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafiq told reporters that the attack took place at Shindai Mor while Khan Zeb was campaigning for a peace parade scheduled on July 13.
According to the DPO, the incident was a targeted killing carried out by unidentified attackers riding motorcycles. The assault also claimed the life of a policeman accompanying Khan Zeb and left three other individuals injured. Law enforcement agencies have collected evidence from the scene to aid in their investigation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has vehemently condemned the shooting near Shandai Mor in Bajaur that resulted in the deaths of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Maulana Khan Zeb and another person.
Sharing his profound grief over the incident, the minister extended his heartfelt sympathies to ANP chief Aimal Wali Khan and the bereaved family.
In a statement released on Thursday, Naqvi expressed solidarity with Aimal Wali Khan and the families affected by this tragedy, assuring them of his support during this challenging time. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
Calling the act utterly reprehensible, the interior minister stressed that those who target innocent people are devoid of humanity and do not merit any compassion or leniency.
Khan Zeb was an influential figure within the ANP, serving on its central cabinet as secretary of ulema affairs, as detailed on the party’s website.
Reacting to the tragedy, ANP President Senator Aimal Wali Khan issued a strong condemnation, asserting that the party would file a first information report (FIR) against the state.
“State institutions are complicit because of their criminal silence,” he alleged. Wali Khan shared on X a photograph of himself with Khan Zeb, captioned simply, “devastated.” He further mentioned that after discussions with Khan Zeb’s elder brother, Sheikh Jahanzada, the party would formally register an FIR against the state.
Similarly, ANP’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Mian Iftikhar Hussain denounced the killing in the harshest terms, declaring it an attack not just on the ANP but on Pashtun identity and the broader quest for peace. In a statement on X, he announced three days of mourning across the province, suspension of all party activities, and the hoisting of black flags alongside party flags. Hussain also said he would be traveling to Bajaur and urged party workers to maintain unity and discipline during this period.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s office issued a statement condemning the incident, directing law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and swift arrest of those involved. “No one responsible will be able to escape the law,” the statement quoted the chief minister.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed deep concern, recognizing Khan Zeb as “a leading peace campaigner and political leader of the ANP.” The rights body called for an immediate and impartial probe, urging federal and provincial authorities to restore peace in the violence-affected areas so that residents who have suffered for decades could live without fear.
The tragedy underscores the persistent threats faced by politicians in KP. Earlier this year, Bajaur MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan’s residence was twice targeted — first by an IED in May and later by a rocket attack in June. Fortunately, he was unharmed in both incidents.
