He was traveling through Di Khan when his convoy was attacked near a toll plaza.
Dera Ismail Khan:
The convoy of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was attacked in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Geo News reported. reported on Sunday.
The veteran politician's convoy was fired upon from multiple directions at Yarik Interchange, party spokesperson Mufti Abrar confirmed on Geo News on Sunday.
The JUI-F chief was passing through DI Khan when his convoy came under attack near the toll plaza.
In response to a question about Fazl's safety, he assured that the veteran politician is safe.
Speaking to Geo News, Fazl's brother denied attacking the veteran politician. The JUI-F chief said he was at his home when the incident occurred.
“Maulana's car stopped for refueling near Yarik Interchange. [when the incident happened,” he added.
The alleged attack comes in the backdrop of repeated security concerns raised by Fazl who, on multiple occasions, has cast doubts over the staging of polls due to the “unstable” security situation in some parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Geo News reported.
“There is no police in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Lakki Marwat. Can the polls be staged in this situation of unrest?” The senior politician wondered while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on December 5.
Earlier this week, Fazl had warned that it would hold Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja responsible if the party’s workers came under attack during electioneering.
Fazl’s remarks came after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the caretaker government to ensure timely elections, warning against any delay in the polls slated for February 8, 2024.
Condemning the attack on the JUI-F chief, party leader Hafiz Hamdullah termed the incident as a nefarious move to prevent the party from taking part in the electoral process.
“We have been saying how elections can be held in such [law and order] Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri argued that the incident casts doubt on the transitional government's ability to provide security.
Following the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack on Fazl's convoy and expressed relief over the politician's safety.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken note of the incident and has asked concerned officials to report on the matter.
It is important to know that the party has suffered significant losses due to being targeted by banned organizations over the years.
In September, senior JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah was injured in an explosion in Mastun district of Balochistan province, along with 10 others.
Meanwhile, in July, at least 40 JUI-F workers were killed in a suicide bombing that targeted the party's workers' convention in Khar, Bajaur.
Pakistan has seen an alarming spike in terrorist incidents this year, reaching their highest level since 2014.
Citing data collected by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Geo News reported 23 cases in which KP bore the brunt of these attacks, leaving 254 people dead and 512 injured. It was reported.
Thirteen suicide bombings occurred in the state and the newly merged district (NMD), killing 85 people and injuring 206 others.
Due to such an alarming law and order situation, the Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to provide support to Pakistan to ensure the law and order situation during the upcoming general elections due to the shortage of 270,000 police personnel. requested military assistance.
In a letter to the Home Ministry, the ECP asked for “requisition of Pakistan Army and Civilian Armed Forces (CAF) missions in static mode”.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
