BAJAUR: In just one month, the residence of MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan, who is also the prime minister’s special assistant on tribal districts, in Bajaur district came under another attack after unknown assailants targeted the house with a rocket before making their escape under the cover of darkness.

According to the police and lawmaker’s family, the attack at MNA Khan’s house in Shah Naray area of Khar tehsil occurred at about 1am on Saturday. “The roc­ket fired by the unknown attackers damaged the main gate and a portion of the boundary wall of the house,” said Mian Habib Gul, a close relative of the lawmaker. MNA Mubarak Zeb, in a social media post, confirmed the attack. “Someone has once again targeted my home in Bajaur…but thankfully all my family members remained safe,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the area, District Police Officer Waqas Rafique said that after the attack, a team of police personnel immediately rushed to the scene. However, the assailants fled the scene after the rocket attack. The police official said the lawmaker was not at home at the time of the attack, adding that an investigation had been launched into the incident to nab the culprits.

PM condemns incident, orders authorities to nab culprits; policeman killed in Lakki

“We have launched a result-oriented probe into the attack on MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan’s residence to determine the cause and those responsible for the assault — this is the second such incident at the lawmaker’s house since May 14,” said the police officer. He added that they collected several pieces of evidence from the scene.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement issued on Saturday. He directed the relevant authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the attack and take action against those involved. However, no one had claimed responsibility for the attack by the time this report went to press on Saturday evening.

Policeman killed

Separately, an off-duty police official was kidnapped from his house in Lakki city by unknown gunmen, who took him to a nearby forest and killed him on Friday night.

A police official confirmed the incident and said that the martyred cop, Khushdil Khan, was deployed at the Qabool Khel check-post as the deputy in-charge officer and had come home on leave. “Unknown armed men kidnapped him from his house located in Malikabad area in the Lakki city, took him to the nearby forest, locally called darga, and killed him there,” he added.

The body was taken to the Government City Hospital for medico-legal formalities. The official said that a large police contingent reached the venue, collected evidence and launched a search for the assailants in the surrounding area. The body of the martyred cop was transported to the Police Lines where his funeral prayers were held. A police contingent also presented a guard of honour to their fallen colleague.

Ghulam Mursalin Marwat in Lakki Marwat also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025