DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unidentified armed men shot dead a director general of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Tank district on Saturday.

The district police officer of Tank, Abdul Samad Khan said that Shamshad Akhtar, the director general of ECP in Islamabad, was shot dead by unidentified armed men. He said that the official had gone to his ancestral village Garah Baloch following the death of his brother.

He said that the official was receiving condolences at his residence and unidentified assailants opened fire on him when he stepped outside his place. He died on the spot.

Police cordoned off the crime scene and launched a search operation to trace his killers. The motive behind the killing and the identity of the assailants were not immediately known, police said.

Meanwhile, ECP expressed profound grief and sorrow over the killing and described the deceased as an honest, humble and dutiful officer, who had no personal enmity with anyone. The incident is a case of targeted killing, according to a press release issued by ECP.

The release said that Shamshad Akhtar was highly respected among his colleagues and peers for his professional conduct and personal integrity.

The chief election commissioner, members of the commission, the ECP secretary and all employees expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026