A local leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Dera Ismail Khan on early Saturday morning. Maulana Attaullah Shah was taking an early morning stroll on Bannu Road after offering Fajar prayers in Banu Ada area of D I Khan when he was shot dead by unknown armed persons riding a motorbike, who managed to escape the scene of the incident, police said. Officials added Shah died on the spot.
This is the fourth incident of target killing in the district during the past one week. Shah was serving as the khateeb (sermon-giver) of a local mosque these days, was considered to be a prominent leader of JUI-F. He originally hailed from Paniala, but was residing in D I Khan city for past several years.
Police termed the killing as 'sectarian' in nature and an FIR was registered against the unidentified persons. Shah's body was sent to his native village, Paniala, for burial after District Headquarters Hospital confirmed his death. The security forces cordoned off the area after the incident and launched a search operation.
The deceased happens to be a close relative of JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and was a spiritual leader in Paniala. The local people said the slain religious scholar will be laid to rest at his ancestral village after offering funeral prayer. JUI-F leaders have been on cross-hairs of the killers as last month its leader Qari Haq Nawaz was shot dead in Charsadda. The cleric was returning home after offering morning prayers in a mosque when he was targeted, local police said. Nawaz was the founder of and a teacher at Jama-e-Muhammadia in Matta Mughal Khel area of Charsadda.
There have been several incidents of targeted killing in D I Khan city during the past few days. Four people including two policemen were killed and one civilian injured in four such incidents in a span of one week this month. Two police constables were gunned down on August 11 near Kotli Imam Hussain Imambargah. Two days later, a government servant was shot dead at his doorstep in Maryali area. A milk-seller was critically injured due to firing in Eidgah on August 17.
Meanwhile, in Peshawar, unknown armed men shot dead a female schoolteacher in the jurisdiction of Tehkal police station in Peshawar, police said. According to details, unknown armed men opened indiscriminate fire on a female schoolteacher, Alia, in Haji Zai area of Tehkal. The miscreants managed to flee from the area after committing the murder. The bereaved family warned police of protest against the brutal murder. They alleged that the number of criminals have increased in the area.