CHARSADDA/PESHAWAR: A prominent religious scholar, Shaikh-ul-Hadis and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Muhammad Idrees was assassinated in targeted shooting by unidentified motorcyclists in Uthmanzai area of Charsadda on Tuesday morning.
Police officials said Maulana Idrees was travelling from his residence in Turangzai to Jamia Noumania Uthmanzai to deliver a Hadis lecture when armed motorcyclists ambushed his vehicle near Uthmanzai Bypass and opened indiscriminate fire.
As a result, Maulana Idrees embraced martyrdom on the spot, while his two police guards were seriously injured and shifted to Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, for treatment.
Doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital, Charsadda, pronounced Maulana Idrees dead when he was brought there. He sustained two bullet wounds, one in the neck and another at the back of the head, they added.
Police officials said the attackers managed to flee after the incident. A search operation was launched and evidence was collected from the crime scene. An investigation team led by SP Investigation Alam Zeb Khan was formed, which was reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas.
A police spokesperson termed the incident a “targeted killing” in initial findings, adding that images of the suspects had been obtained through Safe City cameras and raids were being conducted to arrest them. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report, ordering swift arrest of the perpetrators.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi also condemned the attack and sought a report. Following the incident, protests erupted in Farooq Azam Chowk, Rajjar, Shabqadar and Turangzai areas, where demonstrators condemned the killing and demanded justice.
Meanwhile, a joint investigation team of local police and Counter Terrorism Department was constituted on the orders of IGP to probe the incident.
According to the spokesman for KP Police, the attack occurred at 8:10am within the limits of Utmanzai police station, where four unidentified attackers riding two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle of Maulana Idrees. IGP Zulfiqar Hameed stated that high-level investigation teams had been formed, which were working on modern scientific lines to ensure swift progress.
An FIR was registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Mardan against unidentified motorcyclists on the complaint of injured police constable Sher Alam. Provisions related to terrorism have also been included along with murder charges.
Funeral prayers for Maulana Idrees were held in his native village, Turangzai, which were attended by thousands of people, including religious scholars, political leaders, chief minister KP, JUIF leadership and other prominent figures.
The JUIF district leadership announced a three-day mourning, warning of further protests if the culprits were not arrested within three days.
Maulana Idrees was a senior teacher at Jamia Noumania Uthmanzai and Jamia Haqqania Akora Khattak. Born in 1961 in Tarangzai, he belonged to a well-known religious family and had served in prominent academic and political positions, including as a member of the provincial assembly.
Meanwhile, JUIF provincial president Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman condemned the killing of Maulana Idrees and announced countrywide protests against the tragedy on Wednesday (today). He added that separate protests would also take place in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province.
He said Maulana Idrees’ assassination would not weaken the resolve of JUI-F workers but would rather strengthen their commitment to their cause. “We consider the blood of every scholar as our own. The state must tell us who is behind these incidents,” he demanded.
The JUIF leader criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, saying that despite being in power through “illegal means” for over a decade, the government had failed to maintain peace in the province. “Terrorists are in control of the province, not the government,” he claimed, adding that the administration appeared disconnected from ground realities and had failed to ensure public safety.
He accused the provincial leadership of pursuing political agendas instead of improving governance. “The PTI government is more focused on agitation against the federal government than on maintaining law and order,” he added.
Maulana Rehman warned that their protest would be directed against both the provincial and federal governments, adding that a future course of action would be announced later.
Meanwhile, the Islamic State of Khurasan Province (IS-KP) or ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Maulana Idrees. The group posted an Arabic statement on its website, claiming responsibility for the killing of the prominent religious scholar.
