NEW DELHI: A senior judge in Pakistan’s volatile northwest was ambushed and abducted by armed men, as confirmed by a police official on Sunday. According to Faheem Khan, around 15 assailants on motorcycles intercepted Judge Shakirullah Marwat’s vehicle while he was traveling towards Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers proceeded to set the car on fire before fleeing with the judge.Fortunately, the driver escaped unharmed.
Although no group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault on Saturday evening, suspicion is likely to point towards the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, who have historically operated in the region.
The targeting of a judge of Marwat’s seniority is unusual for militants in the northwest, as they typically focus their attacks on security personnel or infrastructure. Marwat typically travels with tight security.
In response to the incident, Khan mentioned that a search operation had been initiated for the missing judge, with a counter-terrorism team assisting in the investigation.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in violence, largely attributed to the TTP, since the group unilaterally terminated a cease-fire with the central government in November 2022.
Just last weekend, gunmen attacked customs officials in Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the death of two officials and the injury of three others.
(With inputs from agency)