Religio-political leader shot dead in Pakistan’s Peshawar

Maulana Qazi Zahoor Ahmad, a leader of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and a religious scholar, was shot dead in Peshawar's Badhber area on Sunday. Police said unidentified assailants opened fire on him as he returned home on a motorcycle from a mosque. Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in northwestern Pakistan.

“The incident occurred under the cover of darkness, and the attackers fled the scene,” police confirmed to Nukta.

An FIR has been registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code on a complaint filed by the victim’s brother, Attaullah. “We have no enmity with anyone, nor was Qazi Zahoor under any threat. He was targeted solely because he was a religious scholar,” said his brother Tahseen Ullah.

JUI-F condemns killing

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the killing and called on the government to take immediate action. “The government has lost its authority, and lawlessness prevails, posing a serious threat to peace and security,” he said.

JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Abdul Jalil Jan highlighted that over 100 party leaders and workers have been targeted in attacks over the past two years. “The government has failed to act. We have convened a meeting on February 1 in Peshawar to devise a strategy to address this issue,” he added.

Investigations underway

Badhber Police Station SHO Rafiq Khan said an investigation is underway, with efforts focused on gathering evidence and identifying suspects. “It appears to be a targeted killing, but it is too early to confirm the motive,” he said, noting the difficulty in solving such cases without eyewitnesses.

According to police data, Peshawar reported 557 murders last year, averaging three killings every two days. Arrests were made in just 38% of cases. Attempted murder cases fared slightly better, with a 73% arrest rate.

Patterns of violence

Experts link the rise in targeted killings to increasing insecurity in the region. “Terrorism has created three patterns: attacks on officials, extortion refusals, and violence against religious leaders and minorities,” said former KP Inspector General of Police Akhtar Ali Shah.

He urged the government to develop an effective strategy to tackle these challenges.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Masood Bangash added that while not all killings are targeted, thorough investigations are conducted in each case. “We use geo-fencing and other techniques to track culprits, though arrest rates remain low,” he noted.

The incident has added to concerns over growing lawlessness in the province, with calls for immediate government intervention to ensure safety and justice.