Hafiz Maulana Abdul Salam Arif, a member of the provincial council of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists in Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, according to a police officer.
According to investigating officer (IO) Safdar Khan, the JUI member was heading home after offering prayers at a mosque when he was attacked by two armed suspects on a motorcycle.
“The incident is being investigated from all possible angles,” the IO said. “The police have collected evidence from the crime scene and have also called in a team of experts to provide assistance.”
The IO added that the victim’s son lodged a complaint with the Mandani police station.
Apart from being a member of the provincial council, the slain Abdul Salam was the chief of Madressah Abu Bakar Siddique in Tehsil Tangi and the preacher at a mosque within the Jamalabad Dairy Farm area.
In July this year, Awami National Party politician Maulana Khan Zeb and a policeman were shot dead by unidentified suspects in KP’s Bajaur district, according to police.
Bajaur District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafiq said Sunrise that the politician was shot dead in Shindai Mor while campaigning for the July 13 peace parade, adding that a police officer was also killed in the attack.
“Three other people were injured in the shooting,” said DPO Rafiq. “This is a targeted killing carried out by unidentified shooters on motorcycles.”
