Peshawar (Balochistan News)In a tragic incident in the area of Utmanzai, Charsadda, a well-known religious personality, former provincial assembly member, and Sheikh-ul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Idris Tarangzai was martyred in an assassination attack.
According to police, the incident occurred when Maulana Muhammad Idris was on his way to Darul Uloom Utmanzai to deliver a Hadith lecture. Unidentified armed men opened fire on his vehicle, as a result of which he sustained serious injuries and died while being shifted to the hospital. Two police personnel were also injured in the incident.
Police have cordoned off the site of the incident and collected evidence, while efforts are underway to identify the attackers with the help of Safe City cameras. The incident is initially being treated as a targeted killing.
According to the Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, special teams have been formed for the arrest of the culprits and investigations have been expedited.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident, terming it a major loss for the country and the nation. Both leaders prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and patience for the bereaved family.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the incident and sought a report. Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq termed it a result of the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and demanded that the government ensure the protection of citizens.
The funeral prayer of Maulana Muhammad Idris will be offered today in his ancestral village Tarangzai, where a large number of people are expected to attend.