Spokesperson says the officer lost his life after unidentified suspects opened fire on him
Director General of Election Commission of Pakistan Shamshad Khan shot dead in KP. PHOTO: APP
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Director General Shamshad Akhtar was martyred in a terrorist attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Saturday after unidentified armed men opened fire on him.
A press release from the ECP spokesperson described the incident as a targeted killing, stating that the officer was an honest, conscientious and dedicated public servant who had no personal enmity with anyone.
According to the statement, the late officer was held in high regard by his colleagues and fellow officers.
“The chief election commissioner, members of the commission, the ECP secretary and other staff express deep grief and sorrow over his death,” the press release stated further.
Extending their condolences to the bereaved family, they said the entire commission stood with them during this difficult time. They also prayed for the deceased’s forgiveness and elevation of his status in the hereafter, and for patience and strength for his family.
The ECP and its employees called on the government to take effective measures to protect all government employees from terrorist attacks.
K-P has faced persistent militant violence in 2026, with the province’s southern districts, including Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan, emerging as major security hotspots. In May, The Express Tribune reported that provincial police had sought a special federal security package to strengthen police stations, establish new posts and upgrade security infrastructure in the affected districts.
The threat has also become more sophisticated, with militants increasingly deploying drones, thermal imaging and night-vision equipment against police personnel and security installations.
According to The Express Tribune, 156 police personnel were killed in militant attacks across K-P and its tribal districts between January and July 2026. Violence remained concentrated in Hangu, Bannu, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Khyber, and was reportedly spreading to the mountainous areas of Malakand Division, including Swat.
Tank witnessed several deadly attacks this year.
On July 24, at least 15 security personnel and a government official were martyred in an attack on a joint police and security forces checkpost in the district. Then again, on September 28, three traffic police personnel were martyred when unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle in the Wazirabad area of Tank.
The attacks underscore the continuing vulnerability of law-enforcement personnel in the province’s southern districts.
