Renowned cleric shot dead in Charsadda

PESHAWAR:

A prominent religious cleric, Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai, was killed on Tuesday in a targeted shooting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P) Charsadda, while two police constables were also injured in the attack.

According to details shared by police, the incident took place on Tuesday morning at around 08:10am within the jurisdiction of Utmankhel police station, Charsadda.

Four unidentified terrorists riding two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle of the religious cleric, who was widely known as Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Idrees.

Immediately after the incident, Maulana Idrees and the two injured constables were shifted to the hospital.

However, the scholar succumbed to his injuries on the way, while the injured constables received medical treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital in Charsadda.

The area was immediately cordoned off by the police, and a search operation was launched following the attack. The attackers fled the scene after carrying out the assault.

The K-P Inspector General of Police (IGP), Zulfiqar Hameed, took strict notice of the incident and ordered the formation of joint investigation teams (JIT) comprising the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police.

Police officials said investigative teams have obtained images of the attackers through Safe City cameras, and a search operation is underway to trace and arrest the suspects. Raids are being conducted at various locations on the basis of these images.

According to initial evidence, the incident appears to be a planned targeted killing. Police said initial investigations also support the conclusion that it was a premeditated attack.

IGP Hameed constituted high-level investigation teams and directed them to conduct the inquiry on modern scientific lines. He reiterated that the perpetrators and their facilitators will be brought to justice soon and that peace and order in the region will be maintained.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Public Relations, IGP Hameed also met with a high-level delegation led by Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, who demanded the swift arrest of those responsible. An additional IGP CTD was also present during the meeting.

An FIR was registered at the Mardan CTD police station in connection with the targeted attack in Charsadda.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of the religious figure.

In a statement, the president extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the martyr and prayed to the Almighty for the elevation of his ranks.

The president said such cowardly terrorist acts cannot dampen the resolve of the nation, emphasising that the national resolve to eliminate terrorism from the beloved homeland remains firm and unwavering.

He said action against terrorist elements will continue indiscriminately, and the country will be made a cradle of peace.

 

Similarly, the premier expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Maulana Idrees Tarangzai.

In his statement, the prime minister extended heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul.

He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the police personnel injured in the incident.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also took notice of the attack and strongly condemned it. In a statement, the chief minister sought a detailed report from police officials regarding the incident and directed authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.

 

Network traced

Meanwhile, a major breakthrough emerged in the investigation into the killing of the religious scholar as authorities traced the network behind the attack and obtained images of the assailants through CCTV footage.

 

Fazl announces protests

Meanwhile, the killing sparked a strong political reaction. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced countrywide protests on Wednesday and Friday against the martyrdom of Maulana Idrees.

"Full and peaceful protests will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) and on Friday against the martyrdom of Sheikh Idrees," said JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghouri. He added that demonstrations would be organised at provincial headquarters and district levels across the country.

 

Calling the cleric's death an irreparable loss, Ghouri said the party was "exhausted by carrying the bodies of senior scholars," asking, "How long will the state continue to test us?" He accused both federal and provincial governments of failing to maintain law and order and urged the public to join protests against growing lawlessness.

"The government has failed. The public will have to step forward to protect themselves," he said.

Security officials noted that such incidents have been recurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising concerns over governance and response gaps. They pointed out that attacks on religious scholars, seminaries and political figures have followed a troubling pattern.

It is pertinent to note that the killing of Maulana Idrees is not an isolated case. On July 21, 2025, religious leader Pir Ibrahim was shot dead in Charsadda's Tangi area.

Earlier, on July 10, Awami National Party leader Maulana Khan Zeb was killed along with two associates in Bajaur's Shindai Mor in an attack attributed to militant elements.

On March 14, 2025, a suicide attack inside a mosque in South Waziristan injured JUI leader Maulana Abdullah Nadeem, while on February 28, a deadly attack on Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak killed JUI leader Hamidul Haq Haqqani along with three others and left dozens injured.