ECP director general martyred in K-P’s Tank after gun attack
Spokesperson says the officer lost his life after unidentified suspects opened fire on him
ECP Director General Shamshad Akhtar succumbed to injuries sustained in a terrorist attack on Saturday in Tank district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The attack was carried out by unidentified armed men who opened fire on the officer. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) described the incident as a targeted killing, emphasizing that Akhtar was an esteemed public servant with no personal grudges.
His colleagues and superiors expressed profound grief and sorrow over his death, vowing to support his family and pray for his salvation. The ECP and its personnel urged the government to implement stringent security measures to safeguard all government employees from such heinous acts. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been grappling with militant violence throughout 2026, with southern districts like Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan emerging as prime security concerns.
In May, The Express Tribune reported that police had requested a special federal security package to bolster police stations, establish new posts, and upgrade security infrastructure in the affected areas. The threat has escalated, with militants now utilizing drones, thermal imaging, and night-vision technology against police personnel and security installations.
From January to July 2026, 156 police personnel lost their lives in militant attacks across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and its tribal regions. The security situation in Tank has been particularly volatile, witnessing multiple deadly attacks in recent months. On July 24, at least 15 security personnel and a government official perished in an assault on a joint police and security forces checkpoint.
On September 28, three traffic police officers were martyred when unidentified assailants fired upon their vehicle in Tank's Wazirabad area. These incidents highlight the enduring vulnerability of law-enforcement personnel in the southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
