PTI candidate Rehan Zeb Khan shot dead

Rehan Zeb Khan with Ex chairman of PTI Imran Khan

Tehrik-e-Insaf Pakistan (PTI) leader and independent candidate Rehan Zeb Khan shot dead on Wednesday (31 January) in Khaybar Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district just a week before national election.

PTI has been barred to contest in the election in its election symbol `Bat’ which to be held on 8 February. That’s why the politicians of the party take part in the election as `independent candidate’.

According to Geo news, Rehan Geb Khan, an independent candidate, was contesting elections from NA-8 and PK-22 seats and was in Sadiqabad Phatak Bazar area of the tribal district for election campaign when unidentified assailants fired upon him, leaving him dead on the spot.

The attack comes in the backdrop of increased terrorist attacks that have plagued particularly Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces in recent months.

With more than 128 million voters, various circles have raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially in the aforementioned provinces, with some lawmakers even moving the Senate seeking poll delay in light of security threats.

Meanwhile, taking notice of the incident, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought a report from the provincial chief secretary and Inspector General Police (IGP), further directing them to take stern action against those responsible for the attack.

A day earlier, at least four people lost their lives after a blast targeted the former ruling party's rally in Balochistan's Sibi.

The month of January has rather proved disastrous for election hopefuls. Rehan is not the first leader to have lost his life in the run-up to the polls previously Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Shah Khalid was shot dead by unidentified men in the province's Swabi district.

Pakistan human rights organizations have condemned the killing of the PTI leader and election candidate Rehan Geb Khan. The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) says it strongly condemns the heinous murder of Rehan Zeb Khan, an act of violence that is in stark contradiction to the fundamental principles of respect for life and human dignity.

The organization has urged a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation to this heinous killing. The International Human Rights Foundation said in a statement, it urges the competent authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation to ensure that those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice, always respecting due process and judicial guarantees.

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