PTI MPA gunned down in Hangu

Published June 3, 2013
Khan had won the May 11 general election as an independent candidate, and had later joined the PTI, the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.—File Photo
Khan had won the May 11 general election as an independent candidate, and had later joined the PTI, the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.—File Photo

PESHAWAR: Newly elected Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) provincial lawmaker Fareed Khan was shot dead Monday by unknown gunmen in Hangu in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.

Fareed Khan's vehicle came under fire near his residence near Singair village in Hangu. Police said the lawmaker and his driver were killed, while his brother Shahnawaz was injured in the attack.

Khan had won the May 11 general election as an independent candidate, and had later joined the PTI, the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He won the PK-42 seat by securing 16,129, defeating influential Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) candidate and two times MPA Attiqur Rehman, who received 12,680 votes in the polls.

PTI chairman Imran Khan condemned the incident.

"Strongly condemn the murder of PTI MPA Fareed Khan from Hangu. May Allah give his family strength to bear the loss. My prayers go out to them," said the PTI chief.

Imran also telephoned KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and directed him to immediately make efforts to arrest the killers.

So far there has been no claim of responsibility for the killing from any militant group.

A 'common man'

Fareed Khan was described by many as an honest and a ‘man of the masses’.

Although he originally belonged to Orazkai Agency, Khan had been living in Hangu for many years.

Reportedly, Fareed Khan only had one Rs100-note in his pocket at the time of submitting his nomination papers for the elections. The 41-year old lawmaker had also been a student of the Fine Arts Department at the University of Peshawar but was unable to complete his higher education.

He was the only independent MPA to join the PTI without putting forth any conditions.

In an informal chat with Dawn.com following the oath-taking ceremony of the KP assembly, Khan alleged that political parties had offered him millions of rupees to join them, but he opted to join the PTI as he believed it would resolve the problems of the masses.

Suspect arrested

Police claimed to have arrested the alleged killer of the PTI MPA along with three other suspects and they are currently being interrogated.

Police sources claim that Mufti Hamid – the alleged mastermind of the attack – with three other suspects have been arrested from the areas of Hangu. The police also claimed to have seized the motorcycle and the Kalashnikov rifle used in the attack.

The district police officer Sajjad Khan, however, said that they have made some arrests and are investigating but could not disclose their names as the investigation process is currently underway.

Mufti Hamid is said to be affiliated with TTP’ Mullah Nabi Hanfi group and was involved in different terrorist activities in Hangu.

Opinion

Editorial

Drawdown
20 May, 2025

Drawdown

IT appears that the ceasefire will hold, at least in the near term. As Islamabad and New Delhi retreat cautiously...
Unusual benchmarks
20 May, 2025

Unusual benchmarks

THE IMF has slapped Pakistan with several ‘new’ structural benchmarks — some of them quite unusual — under...
Celebrating Sirbaz
20 May, 2025

Celebrating Sirbaz

SIRBAZ Khan has achieved what no other Pakistani has before him. The scale of his accomplishment also makes him one...
Famine in waiting
Updated 19 May, 2025

Famine in waiting

Without decisive action, Pakistan risks falling deeper into a chronic cycle of hunger and poverty. Food insecurity is most harrowing in Gaza.
Erratic policy
19 May, 2025

Erratic policy

THE state needs to make up its mind on the import of used vehicles. According to recent news reports, the FBR may be...
Overdue solace
19 May, 2025

Overdue solace

LATE consolation is a norm for Pakistanis. Although welcome, a newly passed bill that demands tough laws and...