Top Surgeon Shot in Peshawar: Attack on Dr Asif Malik sparks alarm over rising targeted violence

-- Pioneer of kidney transplants critically injured in University Town shooting; police launch manhunt

PESHAWAR: Renowned urologist Dr Asif Malik was seriously injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him in the University Town area late Tuesday night, police and hospital officials confirmed.

Dr Malik, widely regarded as a pioneer of kidney transplants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was rushed to Peshawar General Hospital, where he remains under treatment in the intensive care unit. Hospital authorities later confirmed that his condition is stable.

According to city police, investigators recovered three empty pistol shells from the scene near his residence and have registered a case. Officials said CCTV footage is being obtained, while multiple teams have been tasked with tracking down those responsible.

The hospital, where Dr Malik also serves, urged the public to respect the privacy of the doctor and his family, warning against the spread of unverified information. It assured that all official updates would be shared through authorised channels.

The Young Doctors Association said the attack occurred as Dr Malik was returning home. His driver immediately transported him to the hospital, and according to colleagues, he remained conscious and walked into the emergency department himself.

Dr Malik has played a transformative role in healthcare in the province. He previously served as director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases in Peshawar and was the first head of the Medical Transplantation Regulatory Authority. He was instrumental in introducing legal organ transplantation and helping establish renal transplant units in private hospitals across the city.

He also has close familial ties to prominent figures, including former KP police chief Malik Naveed and senior police officer Malik Saad, who was martyred in a 2007 suicide attack.

The incident adds to a worrying trend of targeted attacks in the province. In recent weeks, multiple professionals have come under fire, including a dialysis technician killed in Wana and a senior food authority official injured in another attack in Peshawar. Earlier, a woman doctor was shot dead in Kohat, triggering protests by the medical community.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing as concerns grow over the safety of professionals amid a surge in violence across the region.