Prominent lawyer shot dead in targeted attack in Shabqadar

Unidentified motorcyclists open fire at Muhammad Jan Gigyani's car on Peshawar Shabqadar Road

CHARSADDA: Prominent lawyer and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) nationalist leader, Muhammad Jan Gigyani was gunned down on Saturday in an act of targeted killing in Shabqadar, a small town in Charsadda tehsil of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Police said Gigyani was on his way to a local court located in Haji Zai Shabqadar along with his nephew when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at their vehicle on main Peshawar Shabqadar Road.

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As a result of the attack that occurred at 9:00am today, the QWP leader and his nephew were critically injured.

They were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, where Gigyani succumbed to his injuries. His nephew is still being given medical treatment.

Police officials have cordoned off the area and an investigation is under way.

Confirming the targeted killing of Gigyani, Shabqadar Bar Association has closed operations in courts as protest over the attack.

Locals considered the QWP leader to be a strong political and social figure who raise a voice on important issues pertaining to the town.

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Gigyani’s political career started from Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP). He also contested as a PKMAP candidate previously for a National Assembly (NA) seat in Charsadda against the Awami National Party (ANP). He later joined ANP and remained a member of its provincial council for some time.

In 2013, Gigyani joined QWP. He was a senior member of the Charsadda Bar Association and had previously served as the Shabqadar Bar Association president.

On March 7th, 2016, Gigyani along with other lawyers escaped a blast at a Shabqadar court that killed at least 19 people.