Darra Adam Khel: Federal Minister Shibli Faraz survives attack

DARRA ADAM KHEL:  Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz on Sunday survived an attack on his car while he was on his way from Darra Adam Khel in District Kohat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to  Peshawar.

According to a report by Geo News, the minister has said that he escaped the attack unharmed, however, his driver has sustained injuries and has been taken to a hospital for treatment. 

Taking to Twitter, Shibli revealed that his vehicle was attacked by a mob. They also opened fire on the car. 

"It was a miracle that I survived the attack," the minister wrote and also expressed gratitude to all those who sent him good wishes. 

Later on, speaking to the media over the phones,  the minister detailed that  his assailants were "young" and were carrying "black flags."

He, however, said that he couldn't read what was written on the flags.

"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, according to Geo News.

The minister further added that the mob even tried to chase his car after launching the attack but he safely reached Peshawar, adding that his driver has been injured and had been bleeding profusely, but it is uncertain what caused the injury. 

Soon after the incident, condemnations started pouring in from government officials and politicians alike. 

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and confirmed that while Shibli was doing fine, his driver had been critically injured. 

Nature of attack

While  Shibli, and later Fawad Chaudhry maintained that the assailants opened fire on the minister's vehicle,  Deputy Inspector General Kohat Tahir Ayub, while speaking to Geo News, had said that assailants did not open fire on the minister's car, rather they pelted it with stones which smashed one of the windows of the car. 

"Shibli Faraz was returning to Peshawar after casting his vote in his constituency," the DIG said, per the report. 

The police official explained that a police squad had been accompanying Faraz. He said that the minister has been transported safely to Peshawar.

The counting of votes in local government elections across 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is underway after the close of polling time at 5pm, on a day that saw several incidents of violence break out.

Tensions ran high in different parts of the province, with at least four people killed and eight others injured in a series of attacks including a suicide bombing and a shooting. There were also reports of rockets being fired.

Polling in the 17 districts today, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshehra, Mardan, and Peshawar, marked the first phase of the local body polls, with the next phase to take place at a later date.