The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has expressed its shock and grief over the death of its National Assembly candidate Rehan Zeb, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Bajaur on Wednesday.
Rehan Zeb was contesting the upcoming general elections from NA-40 Bajaur, a tribal district in the north-west of the country. He was attacked by armed men on a motorcycle while he was on his way to a campaign rally, according to local media reports.
The PTI party condemned the attack as a cowardly act of terrorism and said that it raised serious doubts about the fairness and transparency of the elections. The party accused the caretaker governments of failing to provide adequate security to its candidates and public gatherings, and of having a biased agenda against PTI.
The party also alleged that the killing of Rehan Zeb was part of a larger conspiracy to intimidate and harass its candidates and supporters, and to force them to quit the electoral race. The party claimed that several of its candidates had been illegally abducted and tortured by unknown agencies in the past few weeks.
The party demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of Rehan Zeb and the arrest and punishment of the perpetrators. The party also demanded full security for all its candidates and workers who were participating in the election campaign. The party urged the Election Commission and the judiciary to take notice of the killing of Rehan Zeb and other acts of violence against PTI and ensure justice for the victims.