Rehan Zeb Khan – PTI-affiliated candidate – shot dead in Bajaur

Rehan Zeb Khan – the independent candidate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s district Bajaur supporting PTI – was shot dead today (Wednesday, January 31).

As the polls on February 8 drew closer, the candidate Rehan Zeb Khan for the NA-8 and PK-22 seats was running for office. He was in the tribal district’s Sadiqabad Phatak Bazar neighborhood as part of the campaign when he was shot and killed by unknown attackers.

The incident takes place against a backdrop of a rise in terrorist attacks in recent months, which have primarily affected the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). With over 128 million voters, there are fears about the country’s declining security, particularly in the aforementioned regions. Some MPs have even moved the Senate to request a postponement of the polls due to security concerns.

Also read: Sanam Javaid PTI withdraws from Elections 2024 after re-arrest

Acknowledging the incident, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested a report from the Inspector General Police (IGP) and the province chief secretary, further instructing them to take decisive action against the attackers.

In another incident that happened today, the party workers of Awami National Party in Chaman city, Balochistan, were attacked by gunmen who opened fire on them, killing one of the workers, Zahoor Ahmed. As party spokesperson Zamrak Achakzai stated, the incident happened as ANP activists were engaged in electioneering activities in the PB-50 seat.

In addition, authorities revealed on Wednesday that three additional persons were hurt in a hand grenade attack that targeted the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) election office on Sariab Road in Quetta.