KOHAT: Seven members of a family were killed and another was injured in a firing incident in Regi Shinokhel area in the wee hours of Sunday, the police said.

They said the deceased, belonging to Khara Garhi area of Muhammadzai, were returning from Tanda Dam after picnicking when unknown armed men opened fire at them.

Soon after the incident, four ambulances were dispatched to the scene to shift them to hospital, Jawad Afridi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, said.

Additional deputy commissioner (general) Hamid Iqbal, SP city Kamal Shah, SHO city Fayyaz Khan and rescue officials arrived at the spot immediately.

The injured and deceased were shifted to KDA District Headquarters Hospital, Kohat, from where doctors referred the injured to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.

The injured was identified as Abdur Razzaq, 18.

The deceased included Abdul Samad, 31, Sajid, 25, Yousuf and Ishfaq,18, Mustafa, 15, Hamza, 16, and Yasir, 15.

After the gory incident, a large number of people belonging to Muhammadzai town led by former district naizm Gohar Saifullah Khan blocked the Kohat-Kurram Highway.

Later, the protesters dispersed after assurance by the police that the attackers would be arrested.

The police said an FIR had been lodged against unknown assailants.

Meanwhile, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed while taking strong notice of the killings of seven innocent people in Kohat asked the officials to unravel the cause behind the murders.

In a statement on Sunday, the IGP said that the killers must be brought to justice immediately, adding they could not run away from the police.

Kohat district police officer Dr Zahidullah Khan while talking to mediapersons said three people escaped unhurt in the incident, and that a search operation was launched soon after the mass murders.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025