Late Sunday, a mob of young men carrying black flags attacked Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz. Fortunately, Shibli Faraz managed to escape unhurt, however, his driver received injuries.
To clarify, Shibli Faraz went to his native hometown Kohat for Sunday’s local government election. On his way back to Peshawar, unidentified assailants attacked his motorcade.
According to Shibli Faraz, a mob of 40-50 people, carrying black flags, opened fire on the police vehicle ahead of his car.
“A group of about 40-50 people attacked the security vehicle ahead of mine. When the vehicle moved ahead, they fired shots at it,” said the minister. He also said he could not read the lettering on the flag as it was dark.
Faraz said that the group chased his car, but he reached Peshawar safely. He said his driver was wounded gravely enough to have been bleeding the whole time, but that it is not clear at the moment what caused it.
Important to note, Shibli Faraz believes this was not a politically motivated attack.
بلدیاتی انتخابات کے سلسلے میں آبائی علاقے کوہاٹ سے واپسی پر دورہ آدم خیل کے مقام پر ہجوم نے حملہ کیا اور فائرنگ کی،معجزاتی طور پر محفوظ رہا،تاہم ڈرائیور زخمی ہوا جسکو طبی امداد مہیا کردی گئی،نیک خواہشات کا اظہار کرنے پر دوستوں،میڈیا اور تمام لوگوں کا انتہائی مشکور ہوں
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) December 19, 2021
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Moreover, there are confusing reports regarding the nature of the attack. Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that gunmen attacked Shibli Faraz at Darra Adam Khel.
On the other hand, Deputy Inspector General Kohat Tahir Ayub while talking to the media, said that it was not a firing incident. The mob pelted the vehicles with stones. However, in an interview with the media, Shibli Faraz maintained that it was indeed a firing incident.
“The police were in Kohat and I was present at the scene. I saw the firing with my own eyes,” Shibli Faraz said.
Ministers condemn attack
Federal ministers condemn the attack. Fawad Chaudhry, while giving an account of the incident, said he condemned the attack.
Similarly, Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill termed the incident as “shameful and tragic.”
“Those who promote a culture of violence and intolerance in politics will be disgraced and disrespected. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf believes in peaceful politics,” he further added.
شبلی فراز کی گاڑی پر پتھراؤ کا واقعہ ایک شرمناک اور افسوسناک واقعہ۔ سیاست میں تشدد اور عدم برداشت کا کلچر پروموٹ کرنے والے نامراد اور بے توقیر ہوں گے۔ پاکستان تحریک انصاف پرامن سیاست پر یقین رکھتی ہے۔
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) December 19, 2021
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed condemned the “assassination attempt” and sought a report from the chief secretary and inspector general of police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also prayed for the quick recovery of Faraz’s driver and guard.
وزیر داخلہ شیخ رشید احمد کی وزیر سائینس اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی شبلی فراز پر قاتلانہ حملے کی مذمت
چیف سیکرٹری اور آئی جی خیبر پختونخواہ سے فائرنگ واقعے کی رپورٹ طلب
فائرنگ واقعے میں زخمی ہونے والے شبلی فراز کے ڈرائیور اور گارڈ کی جلدصحتیابی کے لئے دعا@shiblifaraz
ایڈمن پوسٹ— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) December 19, 2021
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan ordered the police to take all steps necessary for the immediate arrest of those involved in the incident.