Maulana Sheikh Muhammad Idrees, a prominent religious scholar and former Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan-Fazl (JUI-F) member of the provincial assembly, was assassinated in a targeted shooting in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack occurred on Tuesday morning as he was traveling from his residence to his madrassa.
Unidentified gunmen on two motorcycles opened fire on his vehicle around 8:10 a.m., fatally wounding him. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Two police officers assigned to protect him were also injured and transferred to Peshawar for medical treatment.
In a significant development, police recovered nine 9mm bullet casings from the scene. The Central Police Office described the killing as a premeditated attack, noting that the assailants had followed the cleric’s vehicle before opening fire. CCTV footage and images of the suspects were obtained through Safe City cameras, and multiple police units, including the Counter-Terrorism Department and district police, have launched raids to apprehend those responsible.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed confirmed that investigations are ongoing from all possible angles. Forensic analysis is being conducted on the collected evidence, including shell casings. The IGP has also requested a report from the Regional Police Officer in Mardan, while the Central Police Office has submitted an initial investigation report.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the assassination, expressing sorrow and directing authorities to provide the best medical care for the injured officers. He has also demanded a comprehensive report from the police regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, JUI-F provincial emir Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman held the provincial government accountable for the killing, warning that continued attacks on religious figures would provoke widespread protests across the province. He condemned the targeting of religious scholars and criticized the provincial administration for focusing on political movements rather than addressing law and order issues.
Rehman emphasized that Maulana Idrees was a respected member of the JUI-F shura and a significant religious personality. He asserted that while his party opposed the government on principle, it remained dedicated to serving the nation. He further warned that if the government failed to ensure citizens’ security, it had no right to remain in power.
Announcing protests across all districts, Rehman demanded immediate action to improve public safety. He criticized the provincial government’s 13-year tenure for failing to deliver security and announced a protest planned for the following day targeting both provincial and federal authorities.
This assassination follows a series of attacks on religious and political leaders in the region. In July 2025, religious leader Pir Ibrahim was killed in Charsadda, and ANP leader Maulana Khan Zeb was shot dead in Bajaur. Additionally, a mosque attack in Akora Khattak resulted in the death of JUI leader Hamidul Haq Haqqani, while JUI district emir Maulana Abdullah Nadeem was injured in an attack in South Waziristan.
