Maulana Muhammad Idrees was killed in a targeted attack in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, early Tuesday at around 08:10 am. The attack involved four unidentified terrorists on two motorcycles who opened fire on his vehicle.
Two police constables were injured during the incident. Maulana Idrees succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital. Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Mardan CTD police station, which includes charges of murder and terrorism.
The attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault. Police have since collected CCTV footage and forensic evidence from the location. The K-P Inspector General of Police has ordered the formation of joint investigation teams to pursue leads.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed their grief over the killing. Zardari stated, “Such cowardly terrorist acts cannot dampen the resolve of the nation.” Meanwhile, Sohail Afridi, a JUI-F spokesperson, called the incident deeply tragic.
Nationwide protests have been announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) following Maulana Idrees’s death. Protesters voiced their frustration over ongoing violence against religious scholars. Aslam Ghauri, another party member, said, “We are tired of burying respected scholars. How long will the state continue to test us?”
Maulana Idrees was born in 1961 in Tarangzai village of Charsadda district. He was known as Sheikhul Hadith and held significant influence as a religious figure in Pakistan.
As investigations continue, authorities expect to uncover more details about the attackers and their motives. Nine bullet casings were recovered from the scene, indicating a violent confrontation.
