Former Senator Abbas Afridi has passed away from injuries sustained in a suspected gas leak explosion at his residence in Kohat's Azim Bagh area, family sources confirmed to The Express Tribune.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening, leaving Afridi and three others critically injured. Initially treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Kohat, Afridi was later transferred to the Burn Center in Kharian for specialized care. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
Abbas Afridi was a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and belonged to a prominent political family.
He was the brother of former MPA and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Provincial Information Secretary Amjad Afridi, and the son of Senator Shamim Afridi.
In a separate but politically entangled development on Thursday, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the assassination of former Kohat District Nazim Malik Asad Khan, including Malik Amjad Afridi -— the brother of the late Abbas Afridi.
At a press conference held at the Kohat Police Club, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Zahidullah Khan disclosed that the murder plot was orchestrated at the residence of Malik Amjad Afridi.
The suspects in custody include Afridi, his nephew Hussain Afridi, and three others identified as Hashim alias Sheno Gulzeb, Nemat Amir, and Yasir.
According to police, Nemat Amir was apprehended in Islamabad who provided key information during interrogation, leading to the arrests of the remaining suspects.
Law enforcement officials also reported the recovery of weapons from all the accused.
The suspects are currently in police custody — Afridi on a five-day remand, and the others for seven days — as investigations continue.
Authorities allege that Afridi and his nephew harbored the attackers and facilitated their escape.
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