Former senator Hidayat Ullah, 2 others killed in Bajaur explosion

Former senator Hidayat Ullah, 2 others killed in Bajaur explosion

Bajaur (Web Desk): At least three people, including former senator Hidayat Ullah, were killed in a bast in Bajur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) on Wednesday.

According to police, the former senator was on the way to a by-election campaign in Damadola when he was attacked.

The police officials added that the former senator's vehicle was targeted via a remote-controlled device.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and sought a report from police authorities.

In a statement the KP CM said that all aspects of the incident should be investigated and a report should be submitted.

KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif offered prayers for the deceased and said: “Such cowardly attacks cannot dampen our spirits.”

As per a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed regret over the deaths due to a “remote-controlled bomb”. He strongly condemned the attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan, house leader Ishaq Dar and opposition leader Shibli Faraz also condemned the attack.

Hidayatullah Khan served as a senator for two consecutive terms, from 2012 to 2024. He was elected to the upper house of parliament as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the 2012 Senate elections.

In 2018, he won as an independent candidate supported by the then ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He retired from the Senate in March this year upon completing his six-year term.