A well-known religious scholar of Charsadda, former member of the Provincial Assembly and Sheikh-ul-Hadith, Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai, was martyred in a targeted attack.
Sources divulged on Tuesday that the firing incident took place in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda district. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Maulana Muhammad Idrees was travelling to Darul Uloom Utmanzai to deliver Hadith lessons when the incident occurred. His body was shifted to the DHQ Hospital, where thousands of followers gathered upon receiving the news.
He was regarded among the leading religious scholars of Pakistan and had served as a former MPA of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). Police sources stated that the firing was carried out by unidentified persons. He died on the way to hospital, while the assailants fled the scene.
Born in 1961 in Tarangzai, Charsadda, Sheikh Muhammad Idrees was associated with Jamia Ahsan-ul-Madaris Jhagra, Peshawar, and continued his religious services as Sheikh-ul-Hadith.
Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Nine mm pistol shells were recovered from the scene, and CCTV footage has also been obtained. According to police officials, two suspects are involved, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest them soon.
The funeral prayer of the late Maulana Idrees is scheduled to be offered at 5:30 pm in his ancestral village, Tarangzai, Charsadda district.
