A senior leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Maulana Abdul Salam, was shot dead in Charsadda in a targeted attack by unidentified assailants, triggering shock and outrage among religious and political circles across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to police, the incident occurred near Hanif Petrol Pump on the Mandani–Takht Bhai Road within the jurisdiction of Mandani Police Station. Unidentified motorcycle-borne attackers opened indiscriminate fire on Maulana Abdul Salam, killing him on the spot before fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement officials immediately reached the area, cordoned off the crime scene, and initiated a search operation to trace the assailants. Police stated that the investigation is being pursued from multiple angles, including the possibility of targeted sectarian or politically motivated violence.
Maulana Abdul Salam was a respected scholar and a senior figure of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. He headed Madrassa Abu Bakar Siddiq in Angar Bari Band, Tehsil Tangi, and was an active member of the party’s provincial council. His assassination marks another grim episode in a series of targeted attacks against religious scholars and political figures in the province.
Local residents and JUI supporters gathered at the site shortly after the incident, condemning the killing and demanding swift justice. Party leaders have called for a transparent investigation and the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Police and intelligence agencies are said to be coordinating efforts to determine the motive behind the killing and identify the network involved.
The tragic killing of Maulana Abdul Salam has raised serious concerns about the recent surge in targeted attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen law enforcement measures to protect religious and political leaders in the region.
