An anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge, Aftab Afridi, was killed along with his wife and children on Sunday after unidentified men opened fire on his vehicle in Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to police, the vehicle of the ATC judge was targeted by unidentified men near Ambar interchange in Swabi, which led to the death of the judge, his wife, grandson and daughter-in-law, who were travelling from Peshawar to Islamabad via Swabi.
“Two security guards in the judge’s convoy also sustained wounds in the attack,” they said.
The bodies and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities and treatment, respectively. The security forces and police cordoned off the area and started collecting evidence from the scene for forensic analysis.
District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Shoaib, while speaking to a local news outlet, said that police teams reached the site and started investigations into the attack.
Moreover, it emerged that KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Sanaullah Abbasi also reached the site.
The DPO reported that the son of the slain judge, along with other relatives, reached Swabi, adding that the first information report (FIR) would be filed after they have given their statements.
DOP Shoaib further said that the family believes the attack was targeted, citing personal enimity as the reason behind the assualt.
Meanwhlie, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while reacting to the incident, said on Twitter: “Strongly condemn the murder of ATC judge Aftab Afridi, his wife & 2 children at Anbar Interchange, Swabi. The perpetrators of this gruesome act will be apprehended & dealt with full severity of the law.”
KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also took to Twitter to “strongly condemn the brutal killing of [the] ATC Swat Judge” and expressed his condolences with the grieving family.
Similarly, MNA and leader of PashtunTahafuz Movement (PTM) Moshin Dawar said: “Heartfelt condolences to the family of ATC judge Aftab Afridi. Demand immediate and fair investigation of these brutal killings. May Aftab Afridi, his wife, grandson and daughter in law rest in peace. Pakhtunkhwa continues to suffer as terrorism continues to rise again.”
