The funeral prayer of Maulana Khan Zeb, senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and Secretary for Religious Affairs, was held in his native town of Nawagai, a day after he was shot and killed.
A large crowd of mourners, including thousands of locals, political workers, and tribal elders, attended the funeral. Prominent attendees included ANP’s provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, senior leader Sardar Hussain Babak, MNAs from Bajaur Nisar Baz, Dr. Hameed, and Anwar Zeb Khan.
Maulana Khan Zeb was laid to rest in his hometown, and emotional scenes with tearful attendees marked the funeral.
Earlier in the day, the funeral of police constable Sherzada, who was also killed in the same incident, was held with a large public turnout paying respects to the fallen officer.
Later, a case was registered at the Bajaur police station on Friday in the case of killing of Maulana Khan Zeb and a police constable.
According to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) report submitted to the Central Police Office, Maulana Khan Zeb was returning home after participating in a peace march when he was ambushed by armed assailants riding two motorcycles.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the attackers opened fire directly at Maulana Khan Zeb, indicating he was the intended target of the attack. The assailants managed to flee the scene following the assault.
As per the CTD report, geo-fencing is being carried out at two key locations to assist in the investigation. Law enforcement officials recovered 35 pistol bullet casings from the crime scene, further confirming the intensity of the attack.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the deadly incident.
HRCP condemns killing
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement condemning the killing, hailing Khan Zeb as “a leading peace campaigner and political leader of the ANP”.
“We demand a swift and impartial inquiry into this tragic incident,” the rights body wrote in a statement on X.
“The federal and provincial governments must ensure that normalcy returns to the terror-stricken districts of the province and that people who have suffered for decades can lead their lives peacefully and without fear.”
HRCP condemns the killing of Maulana Khan Zeb, a leading peace campaigner and political leader of the ANP, who was assassinated by unknown assailants in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, earlier today. We demand a swift and impartial inquiry into this tragic incident. The federal and…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 10, 2025
