After independent candidate in KP, PTI leader shot dead in Swabi ahead of elections

• Unidentified assailants fired shots at Khalid's car.
• Police say Khalid died on the spot after firing.
• Search underway for the assailants, say police.

A local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Shah Khalid, was shot dead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi on Thursday as political actors become targets ahead of the February 8 general elections.

According to the police, unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle fired shots at Khalid's car at Swabi Adda, as a result of which he lost his life on the spot.

The law enforcers added that the suspects who fired at the vehicle escaped unchallenged. However, the police have launched a search operation for them. The officials have yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder.

The unfortunate incident comes hours after an election hopeful and two other people were shot dead in North Waziristan when unknown assailants opened fire on them, as per local police officials.

The independent candidate, identified as Kaleemullah Khan, was eyeing to contest polls for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly's PK-104, the law enforcers informed Geo News.

In a separate incident on the same day, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) candidate for NA-258 Aslam Buledi sustained injuries during a firing incident in Turbat City, officials said.

The deadly attacks on candidates come as the country gears up for the February 8 general elections, with much hope of ridding the nation of problems — such as political turmoil, terrorism, and economic ills.

Last week, former member of the National Assembly and National Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Mohsin Dawar's convoy came under a gun attack by terrorists in the Tappi village.

The convoy of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also come under attack on December 31 in Dera Ismail Khan, however, he remained safe.

Political actors, including Fazl, have raised concerns and cast doubts over the staging of polls due to the "unstable" security situation in some parts of the province.

Pakistan has witnessed an alarming surge in terror incidents in the outgoing year, reaching the highest level since 2014.