(MENAFN- Tribal News Network)
Former Senator Hidayatullah Khan and four others who perished in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Bajaur were buried in their native areas following their funeral prayers. The somber occasion drew the presence of many grieving relatives and friends.
Regional Police Officer Malakand, Muhammad Ali, visited Bajaur to extend his condolences to the bereaved families and offered prayers for the deceased. He assured the families that the Bajaur police had commenced a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.
Family sources revealed that ten security personnel assigned to former Senator Hidayatullah Khan were withdrawn a few days before the attack. Hidayatullah Khan had previously voiced concerns about his safety during his final Senate speech, highlighting that he had received threats even in the seemingly peaceful city of Islamabad and had registered over 22 FIRs against unknown threatening calls.
Also Read: Remote-Controlled Bomb Blast on Former Senator Hidayatullah Khan's Vehicle Claims 5 Lives
In Nawagai, Senator Hidayatullah Khan's hometown, Maulana Khanzeb from the Awami National Party, and the business community led a protest by closing Nawagai Bazaar. They condemned the attack and the ongoing unrest in Bajaur, stating that such actions were paving the way for a new conflict in the tribal areas. The protesters vowed to resist the targeting of their leaders and communities.
Details of the Explosion
According to the Khar Hospital administration, the bomb blast claimed the lives of former Senator Hidayatullah Khan, Malik Irfan, Nazar-ud-Din, Yar Mohammad, and Sami-ur-Rahman. Their bodies were transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Kharbajore. A case of the murderous attack on Senator Hidayatullah has been registered at the CTD police station, implicating provisions 7 ATA, 427, and 302 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Who Was Senator Hidayatullah Khan?
Hidayatullah Khan served as a senator twice, from 2012 to 2024, representing FATA as an independent. He held prominent positions, including membership in NACTA and chairmanship of the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation. Hailing from Nawagai, he was the son of former MNA Haji Bismillah Khan and brother to former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan and Dr. Inayatullah Khan, a specialist at PIMS Hospital Islamabad.
On the day of the attack, Hidayatullah Khan was returning from Damadola, where he had been campaigning for his nephew, Najibullah Khan, an independent candidate in the PK 22-11 by-elections. As they traveled back to the headquarters, a remote-controlled bomb detonated, tragically ending their journey.
It is noteworthy that a similar incident occurred a few days before the general elections on January 31, 2024, when Rehan Zeb, a young leader from Bajaur, was assassinated a week before the elections. His younger brother, Mubarak Zeb, subsequently won the PK-22 and NA-8 constituencies with a significant majority. Mubarak Zeb later vacated the PK-22 seat, and ten candidates, including Najibullah Khan, are now contesting in the by-elections on July 11.
MENAFN04072024000189011041ID1108406813
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.