Bajaur Attack
Senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader and former electoral candidate Maulana Khan Zeb was shot dead on Thursday in a brutal gun attack near Khar, the administrative headquarters of Bajaur district. The attack, which also claimed the life of his police guard Sher Zada, has plunged the region into mourning and unrest.
The deadly ambush occurred at Shandai Mor, just steps away from Khar Tehsil’s central administrative offices. According to local police, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Maulana Khan Zeb’s vehicle before fleeing the scene. The victims were critically injured and could not survive their wounds.
Maulana Khan Zeb, who served as the central secretary of the ANP’s Ulema Wing, was known for his vocal stance on peace and his active political involvement in Bajaur. At the time of the attack, he was campaigning for a major peace march planned for July 13 — an initiative aimed at promoting stability in the troubled tribal region.
Three other individuals who were in the vehicle at the time — identified as Dr. Tariq, Shah Sawar, and Usman — were seriously wounded in the incident. They were rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment, where their condition is being monitored.
News of the assassination quickly spread, sparking grief and outrage among local residents and ANP supporters. In an emotionally charged protest, mourners carried Maulana Khan Zeb’s coffin through Khar’s main bazaar, chanting slogans and demanding justice.
The protest soon escalated when demonstrators stormed a local security office and began pelting stones, prompting security forces to disperse the crowd using tear gas.
Political leaders across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa condemned the assassination. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur termed the killing a heinous act and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
He has directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and arrest those responsible without delay. “We will not allow such acts of terror to go unpunished,” Gandapur stated. “The government stands with the bereaved families during this difficult time.”
The funeral prayer for Maulana Khan Zeb is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. in his native village, Nawagai.
His assassination is being seen not only as a personal loss for his family and political party but also as a blow to ongoing efforts for peace and political engagement in the region. ANP leaders warn that such targeted attacks risk further destabilizing the already fragile socio-political environment in Bajaur.
