PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Armed men ambushed and kidnapped a senior judge in Pakistan’s restive northwest, a police official said Sunday.
Around 15 men on motorbikes intercepted Judge Shakirullah Marwat’s vehicle as he was travelling toward Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said police official Faheem Khan. The assailants set the car on fire before fleeing with him. The driver was not harmed, Khan said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday evening’s assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, who made the province their stronghold.
It’s unusual for militants in the northwest to target a judge of Marwat’s seniority, who normally travels with tight security. The militants have generally attacked security personnel or infrastructure.
Khan said a search operation had been launched for the judge and a counter-terrorism team had joined the investigation.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in violence, mostly blamed on the TTP, since the group unilaterally ended a cease-fire with the central government in November 2022.
Last weekend, gunmen opened fire at customs officials, killing two and wounding three others in Dera Ismail Khan.
Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Owner of vintage bookstore in Syria encourages readers to keep passion alive
Monica Garcia suffers pregnancy loss: RHOSLC star, 39, reveals she lost her baby
Edwards and Towns lead Timberwolves into the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs for 1st time since 2004
Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
Minister: CPEC transforms Pakistan's development landscape
Megan Fox showcases her curves in all black as she and Machine Gun Kelly bring their goth
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Ashley Roberts, 42, is the epitome of chic in a black off
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
Ukrainian president signs law to boost military mobilization