A prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Chaudhry Adalat, was fatally shot on Thursday during a violent ambush near Pingali Mor in Barnala tehsil, Bhimber district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Adalat, who previously chaired the local Zakat and Ushr Committee, was attacked while returning from the Barnala courts with his nephew and a friend. Unidentified gunmen, reportedly positioned along their route beforehand, opened fire on their vehicle.
Adalat sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died instantly at the scene. Remarkably, his nephew and friend escaped without injury. However, a woman and a child passing by were critically wounded by stray bullets and were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.
Following the attack, the assailants fled in a black car, prompting a swift response from local authorities. Police have launched an extensive manhunt across the region to apprehend the suspects.
Investigations suggest that Adalat was involved in several ongoing legal cases, which may have fostered intense personal rivalries potentially motivating the targeted killing. Law enforcement officials are exploring multiple angles to determine the exact circumstances behind the assassination.
After completing legal procedures, Adalat’s body was handed over to his family, including his brothers Chaudhry Dilawar and Chaudhry Mudassar Mehndi, for burial arrangements.
