PHC judge, driver injured in Peshawar attack

PESHAWAR: Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and his driver sustained injuries when two armed men opened fire on his vehicle on Thursday, sources said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Operations, Zahoor Afridi told media persons that two unidentified attackers fired multiple shots with a pistol and Kalashnikov rifle at the vehicle of Justice Muhammad Ayub Khan in Hayatabad at 8 am a few minutes after he left his residence.

"The attackers were waiting for the judge's car and they fired indiscriminately at the vehicle. About 20 bullets have been fired at the car," the SSP Operations said.

Justice Mohammad Ayub Khan, resident of Lakki Marwat district, was elevated as judge of the Peshawar High Court in 2017. Before his elevation, He had earlier served as judge of an accountability court in Peshawar. He also served as district and sessions judge and remained posted at different stations. He also served as registrar of the PHC.

Spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Muhammad Khursani, through a statement claimed responsibility for the attack on the judge. He said the judges were a target for the TTP as they have sentenced their men to death and imprisonment at the behest of the government.

Dr Ziaur Rehman, a doctor at a private hospital where the judge is under treatment, told The News that Justice Ayub Khan had suffered two bullet wounds, one to his right forearm and another above his eye. “His condition is now stable,” he added. The chief executive officer of the North West General Hospital, where Justice Ayub Khan is under treatment, also confirmed that the judge was out of danger.

An official from Hayatabad Medical Complex said that Muhammad Gul, driver of Justice Ayub Khan received one bullet in the left arm and his condition was out of danger.

Responding to a question about the judge’s security protocol, the SSP Operations said that police is investigating to ascertain the reasons for the missing security cover during the attack.

Muhammad Gul, the injured driver of Justice Ayub Khan, said that two armed men opened indiscriminate fire at the vehicle. He added that the attacker also fired on the passers-by.

He said the attackers managed to escape on motorcycle. He explained that the judge was taken by some people to the North West General Hospital in a car and he was taken to the Hayatabad Medical Complex.

On the other hand, Naib Nazim, Hayatabad, Imran Salarzai said that no CCTV cameras were installed in the area by the administration despite approval some two years ago.

Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth said the judge is out of danger and his condition is stable.

“I have asked the police to apprehend the attackers as soon as possible,” the Chief Justice said during his visit to the hospital to inquire after the health of the judge.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also visited the hospital and inquired after the health of the judge. The chief minister also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, Peshawar High Court Bar Association and Peshawar District Bar Association observed complete boycott of the courts to protest the attack on the judge. The legal fraternity of the province, on the call of KP Bar Council, would observe complete strike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today (Friday) to protest the attack and demand immediate arrests of the attackers.

All the high court judges including Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan, Justice Roohul Amin Khan, Justice Syed Afsar Shah, Justice Ikramullah Khan, Justice Musarrat Hilali and others visited the hospital and inquired after the health of their injured brother judge and the driver.