PML-N leader gunned down in Swabi

Asif Iqbal was at a shop when masked men barged in and opened fire on him, police official says

SWABI: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader was gunned down in Swabi on Wednesday.

A police official told The Express Tribune Asif Iqbal was at a shop when masked men barged in and opened fire on him.

“Asif died on the spot,” he said. “The deceased’s brother Shehzad registered a case against Abdul Aziz and Naik Roz for killing his brother.”



According to the police, the incident is believed to have been triggered by a long-standing enmity.

In March 2016, a general councillor of PML-N was gunned down in the same locality. Imtiaz Ali was parking his car at a garage near his house when unidentified men opened fire on him. Ali died on the spot while the accused fled the site. Ajmal Khan, the father of the deceased, registered an FIR against the incident and said Imtiaz had no enemies. Ali was elected as a general councillor in Swabi in the local government elections of 2015. He also ran a medical centre.

Separately, the police foiled a smuggling bid and seized 15 kilogrammes of hashish.

Swabi DPO Javed Iqbal told The Express Tribune a search operation was carried out on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.



“The police flagged down a vehicle and seized 15 kilogrammes of hashish,” Javed said. “The accused, identified as Muhammad Shahid and Ghulam Safdar, were arrested.”

In another incident, the police also confiscated 1,150 grammes of hashish and arrested a smuggler. He has been identified as Abid Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.