ISLAMABAD: A PTI-affiliated independent candidate was killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in Siddiqabad area KP’s Bajaur district on Wednesday, police confirmed.
Khar Police SHO Rasheed Khan said that Rehan Zeb Khan was busy with electioneering when unidentified armed men opened fire on his vehicle.
The incident comes on the heel of the killings of four people in a bomb blast at a PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibbi.
The police officer said Rehan was taken to the DHQ Hospital, but he succumbed to his wounds. According to the SHO, four other people were also injured in the attack.
Bajaur DPO Kashif Zulfiqar told the media the incident appeared to be a “targeted killing”.
Meanwhile, the PTI strongly condemned the killing, saying Rehan was a “party-backed candidate for a National Assembly seat.”
باجوڑ سے پاکستان تحریک کے قومی اسمبلی کیلئے امیدوار ریحان زیب نامعلوم افراد کی فائرنگ سے جاں بحق
پاکستان تحریک انصاف کی قومی اسمبلی کے امیدوار ریحان زیب پر فائرنگ کی شدید مذمت
فائرنگ کے نتیجے میں ریحان زیب کے جاں بحق ہونے پر نہایت رنج اور دکھ کا اظہار
تحریک انصاف کے… pic.twitter.com/KOZMsgvnBX
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 31, 2024
The party regretted that PTI-affiliated candidates and public gatherings were being targeted by “terrorist attacks,” calling into question fairness of the polls.
“Responsibility for the killing of the [party-backed] candidate is on the incompetent caretaker government,” the party said.
The party demanded an immediate probe into the attack, adding that those responsible should be punished.
The ECP also took notice of the killing. The electoral watchdog sought a report from the KP chief secretary and police chief.
Later in a media talk, the KP’s caretaker CM said the provincial government was prepared for the upcoming general elections.
He, however, acknowledged there were security concerns in some areas.
He also sought a report from the KP police chief on the killing within three days.
