SWABI: A judge of the Swat Anti-Terrorism Court, his wife, daughter and grandson were killed and his driver was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on his car on Sunday.

Judge Aftab Afridi was going to Islamabad from Swat when his car came under fire at the Swabi Interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway. All the four — Mr Afridi, his wife Bibi Zainab, daughter Kiran and three-year-old grandson Mohammad Sanan — died while the driver Jehangir Khan was seriously injured.

Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to pledge an early arrest of the attackers.

“Strongly condemn the murder of ATC judge Aftab Afridi, his wife & 2 children at Anbar Interchange, Swabi. The perpetrators of this gruesome act will be apprehended & dealt with full severity of the law,” he said.

The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Tehsil Chota Lahor City police station.

DIG Mardan Yaseen Farooq rushed to the scene of the attack soon after receiving the information. He was accompanied by District Police Officer Muhammad Shoaib Khan.

When contacted, Tehsil Chota Lahor City SHO Altaf Khan said that a car overtook the judge’s vehicle near the Swabi Interchange and unidentified men travelling in it attacked the judge’s vehicle. Police said that victims were shot at close range.

The injured driver was taken to Bacha Khan Hospital Complex, Shahmansoor.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2021