Assassinated MPA Farid Khan laid to rest in Hangu

HANGU: The funeral prayer of MPA Farid Khan who was shot dead yesterday was held at Darvezi Palosa on Tuesday at 10 am. A large number of notables and area people were present in the Nimaz-e-Janaza that was held under tight security cover.

Khan (42) was killed when armed men sprayed bullets on his vehicle in Mohalla Sangerh in Hangu city.

The deadly attack took place when Farid Khan, along with his brother Shah Nawaz and driver Ayaz Khan, was on his way home after offering Fateha in the Speena area where armed men opened fire on his vehicle near the Shahi Mosque at 5:35 pm.

Farid Khan was killed on-the-spot while his brother Shah Nawaz and driver Ayaz Khan were critically injured. They were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital in Hangu where the driver succumbed to his injuries. The news of his death prompted hundreds of people in Hangu to reach the hospital.

According to police control, all the markets and bazaars of Hangu city were still closed as people were in state of shock and grief over the death of their MPA. A protest rally was also carried out in main Hangu bazaar in which people strongly condemned the killing of newly elected MPA.

Farid Khan belonged to a poor family of Rabiakhel tribe in Orakzai Agency. The residents of 29 villages had fielded him as their consensus candidate to contest the recently held election from PK-42 Hangu and got him elected him as MPA. Farid Khan later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The security forces and police in a joint operation have arrested a Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Mufti Hamid, allegedly involved in the killing of Farid Khan and shifted him to undisclosed location for interrogation.