Maulana Sheikh Muhammad Idrees, a well-known religious figure and former Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA, was shot dead in a targeted attack in Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, according to police officials.
Authorities said the incident took place in the Utmanzai area when the cleric was traveling from his home to his madrassa. Unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire on his vehicle, killing him on the spot.
District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Waqas confirmed that two police personnel assigned for his security were also injured in the attack and shifted to Peshawar for medical treatment.
Police said the attackers fired multiple rounds at around 8:10am before fleeing the scene. The cleric succumbed to his injuries while being transported to hospital.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed stated that investigations are underway from multiple angles. He added that CCTV footage has been collected and forensic analysis of bullet casings recovered from the scene is in progress. Authorities also confirmed that images of the suspects were retrieved through Safe City cameras, and multiple teams including the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) have been deployed to track down the attackers.
Officials described the incident as a planned targeted killing, noting that the assailants had reportedly followed the cleric’s vehicle before carrying out the attack. Nine 9mm bullet casings were recovered from the site.
Sohail Afridi condemned the killing and sought a detailed report from police authorities, expressing grief over the incident and directing that the injured personnel receive the best possible medical care.
At the federal level, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the attack, extending condolences to the bereaved family and reaffirming commitment to combating militancy in the country.
Meanwhile, political reaction intensified as JUI-F provincial leader Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman blamed the provincial government for failing to ensure security. He warned that continued attacks on religious scholars were unacceptable and called for province-wide protests.
He announced demonstrations across districts, criticizing governance in the province and demanding urgent action to restore law and order.
Security officials noted that similar attacks on religious and political figures have occurred in recent months, including incidents in Charsadda, Bajaur, and South Waziristan, highlighting persistent security challenges in the region.
