Pakistani police say militants have kidnapped a senior judge in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Gunmen ambushed and kidnapped a senior judge in a restive region of northwestern Pakistan, police officials said Sunday.
Police official Faheem Khan said about 15 men on motorbikes blocked the car of judge Shakirullah Marwat, who was traveling towards Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers set the car on fire and fled with the man. Khan said the driver was not injured.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday night’s assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which is based in the province.
It is unusual for extremists in the northwest to target Mr Marwat’s senior judge, who usually travels under tight security. Militants typically attack security personnel and infrastructure.
Mr Khan said a search operation had been launched for the judge and counter-terrorism teams had also joined the investigation.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in violence, mainly attributed to the TTP, since the group unilaterally ended its ceasefire with the central government in November 2022.
Last weekend, gunmen opened fire on customs officials in Dera Ismail Khan, killing two and wounding three.
