KP law minister among eight killed in DI Khan suicide attack

E-Paper | June 07, 2026

PESHAWAR: At least eight people, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa law minister Israrullah Gandapur, were killed Wednesday when a suicide bomber exploded outside his residence in Dera Ismail Khan, police said.

More than 30 people were wounded in the attack, including Gandapur's elder brother, said Irfan Mahsud, the assistant commissioner in Dera Ismail Khan.

Deputy Superintendent of police, Jan Mohammad Khan, confirmed the minister’s death.

Provincial health minister Shaukat Yousafzai also confirmed Gandupar's death. “I talked to the minister's brother and he told me that Gandapur has been martyred," he said.

According to eyewitnesses, the provincial law minister was exchanging Eid greetings with people at his residence in tehsil Kullachi, about 50 kilometres from Dera Ismail Khan, when the suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest.

“I saw so many dead people and injured people crying for help,” said eyewitness Haseeb Khan, whose new white holiday clothes were drenched in blood. “There were arms, legs and heads everywhere.”

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.

He is the most senior member of the party to have been killed so far.

Party chief Imran Khan condemned the killing of the Gandapur and directed the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to bring those responsible for the incident to justice as soon as possible.

The Pakistani Taliban have said they are open to talks. But they also say they will not disarm, do not recognise the Pakistani constitution, and will not talk to the government until the army pulls back from their strongholds and all their prisoners are released.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the incident.

“Pakhtunkhwa lost an astute parliamentarian, a decent Pashtun and a brave leader in the martyrdom of Israr Gandapur. May he rest in peace,” tweeted prominent politician Afrasiab Khattak.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

PTI chief urges govt to allow opening of Pakistani Taliban office

Imran warns of fallout if talks not held with Taliban

PTI distances itself from Imran's Taliban office statement

bangash

Oct 16, 2013 06:15pm

Appeasing the Taliban results in another failure.

Recommend 0

abdul moiz

Oct 16, 2013 06:50pm

some non-state actors don't want to see Pakistan in peace....by sabotaging the peace in the country amidst strengthening view of talks among public with taliban is a clear indication that enemies donot want talks but WAR... may Allah show them the right path and grant patience to the reminisce of the departed soul.

Recommend 0

Kamal Mansoor

Oct 16, 2013 06:56pm

So this is because they are not allowed to open an 'Office'??? IK, you will tire from apologizing, but they won't.

Recommend 0

Zulqarnain Cheema

Oct 16, 2013 07:19pm

Bad news hai, but sochne ki baat ye hai k sare attacks KPK per he kyon ho rahe hein...

Recommend 0

Dr. Ishtiaq Khan

Oct 16, 2013 07:30pm

so these useless peace talks working really well looks like?

Recommend 0

Suraj

Oct 16, 2013 07:36pm

When is this madness going to stop?

Recommend 0

pathanoo

Oct 16, 2013 07:31pm

Oh! The Condemnations. Condemnations and more Condemnations. Then come the Negotiations, Negotiations and more Negotiations with the terrorists. Makes perfect sense. Doesn't it?

Recommend 0

Saad(DXB)

Oct 16, 2013 07:49pm

Imran Khan, I am a diehard follower of PTI. But your strategy of having peace talks with Taliban while they kill innocent Pakistanis at will, is annoying and disheartening to many of your followers. While no one is denying the good work your government has undertaken in KPK, it's time you push for crushing the Taliban menace once and for all. You don't have to look too far to see that peace can only be brought about in a country when you adopt a policy of going after the terrorists. Sri Lanka has done it with Tamils Tigers (ironically with Pakistan Military's help), India has done it in many states and Iran did the same with Jundullah.. For heaven's sake, it's no time for political gimmicks. It's human lives we are talking about. The longer you wait, the stronger and harder to eliminate they will get.

Recommend 0

Leo

Oct 16, 2013 07:49pm

Nah !! Khan sahib this can't be Taliban, surely some external forces wants to destabilize KPK govt.

Recommend 0

pakiboy

Oct 16, 2013 08:06pm

iss ka qatil har woh admi hay ju taliban kay office khulwanay kay chakar main hay .. aur uss kay khayal main taliban bohat hee dukhee log hain !!

Recommend 0

Anuj

Oct 16, 2013 08:09pm

The Taliban are committing blasphemy by kiling a fellow Muslim on Eid , and in clear violation of the sermon by the Grand Mufti of mecca during this year's Haj. Will the PTI's Imran Khan still want talks with these animals?

Recommend 0

Ali Khan

Oct 16, 2013 08:16pm

So Mr Imran Khan, another conspiracy against peace talks. Right? Keep waiting till they come for you as well.

Recommend 0

shafiq khan

Oct 16, 2013 08:28pm

Does Mr. Khan of the PTI still believes in negotiation with the thugs and murderers?

Recommend 0

Omer

Oct 16, 2013 08:32pm

Where is Imran Khan? The biggest campaigner of the peace with Taliban?????

Recommend 0

Zubair Khan

Oct 16, 2013 08:43pm

Gandapur was a member of the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), a party led by former cricketer Imran Khan which favours peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban. Such incidents will force IK of PTI to change his mind set. If he does not, it will be bad luck for Pakistan. May Allah save motherland from such cruels who do not spare innocents even on sacred occasions.

Recommend 0

Qaiser Bakhtiari

Oct 16, 2013 09:04pm

If you would read the comments and opinions of Pakistanis it would seem like that it is Malala who is behind these bombings.

Recommend 0

Abbas

Oct 16, 2013 09:25pm

Sad loss on such a holy day.A slap in the face for PTI - obviously it does matter , when one of their own is the victim, but not the innocent Shia's and Hazara's.Let's see who imran now blames-time to blame everybody with his cock and bull nonsense !This is no bat and ball game, for death can come to one and all anytime , any place

Recommend 0

Zaheerul Hassan

Oct 16, 2013 09:39pm

Killing of thousands of innocent people by the terrorists proves that these militants do not deserve any mercy. Political and military top brass should come on same page to eliminate this foreign sponsored terrorism. In fact PTI , Jamiat Islami, PML(N) and others religious parties should openly condemn TTP and others terrorists.

Recommend 0

dr_jugnoo@yahoo.com

Oct 16, 2013 09:40pm

When a senior PTI worker was martyred in Karachi, workers all over the world came out to protest against the killing. They were able to make a difference, even British police HAD to respond. I believe Mr Gnadapurs sacrfice should trigger a simillar if not bigger but peacefull reaction. Dr Abdul Hafeez Siddiqui, USA

Recommend 0

dawson

Oct 16, 2013 09:38pm

pakistan go after these people with allyou got or the nation will perish

Recommend 0

anwar khushab

Oct 16, 2013 09:53pm

Well, Imran. You still want to talk to the Taliban?

Recommend 0

Nizar

Oct 16, 2013 10:09pm

Hey IK! Do you still believe that you can talk to these animals who slaughter people during Eid? They have already stated their condition that they do not recognize Pakistan's constitution, will not disarm, want all their killer associates released before they will consider talking--i.e surrender of Pakistan's sovereignty to them. Time to wake-up as they are killers demeaning the religion that they profess to follow.

Recommend 0

Md. Wazir

Oct 16, 2013 10:19pm

Go ahead Mr. Imran Khan. Open an office for the Taliban and negotiate your law minister's death.

Recommend 0

Syed Zaiduzzaman Hamid

Oct 16, 2013 10:34pm

good news

Recommend 0

Akram

Oct 16, 2013 10:52pm

the TTP are foolishly killing the people they need, soon enough all their friends will abandon them.

Recommend 0

numbersnumbers

Oct 16, 2013 10:50pm

IK should be releasing a statement shortly blaming this attack on drones, while avoiding any use of the words "TTP" and "Terrorist" in the same sentence!

Recommend 0

Oct 16, 2013 11:05pm

very said

Recommend 0

Oct 16, 2013 11:05pm

very sad

Recommend 0

farrukh

Oct 16, 2013 11:47pm

And let's see what is the response of our BRAVE prime minister?most probably hide in the cloak of negotiations.

Recommend 0

ravi from pune

Oct 17, 2013 12:17am

Pakistan's tribal area ruling by Taliban

Recommend 0

Mary

Oct 17, 2013 12:46am

It is yet clear that those who want talks with Taliban will be targeted by the intelligence agencies of so many countries operating in pakistan.This is just a remotly detonated bomb and blamed on sucide bomber to cast the dout and blame on taliban so there will be no talks. wake up pakistan.it will be for the best intrests of pakistan to have a ceasfire with Taliban but enemies of pakistan wont let it happen,they will continue to bleed pakistan whenever there is a chance of dailouge and will supress the voices trying to encourage the dailouge and peace..

Recommend 0

syed

Oct 17, 2013 12:56am

Mr. IK! go and negotiate with them ..

Recommend 0

Aftab

Oct 17, 2013 01:03am

And the government wants to make peace with these barbarians? These animals don't even show any respect for the day of EID by refraining from committing these acts of horror which are condemned by Islam.

Recommend 0

Anil Nair

Oct 17, 2013 01:28am

I know that Pakistan is a resilient country. And as an indian, I wish to visit there someday. I hope peace can reign over this region

Recommend 0

muhibbewatan

Oct 17, 2013 01:35am

This ghastly act can only draw condemnation from all peace-loving people of Pakistan. We Muslims were recently exhorted to refrain from all such gruesome activities at the culmination of the Annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Sounds like the "Khutba" by the Grand Mufti fell on deaf ears. The perpetrators need to be apprehended immediately with no excuses whatsoever. Let the law of the land prevail from now and hereon. The incident happened on an auspicious day of EID, which is being celebrated for reasons known to everyone in the Ummah, and should be considered nothing less than 'grave' and unacceptable by the Pakistani authorities.

Recommend 0

sarwat

Oct 17, 2013 02:01am

IK do you still want to have talk with these barbarians? How many innocent people have to die before you and Feds decide we need to eradicate them. TTP doesn't want to lay their arms, don't accept Pakistani constitution, Army to leave and ALL the prisoners to be released. What's left to negotiate? It is clear they don't want to have peace until they take over the entire country and turn it into ruins. How dense one has to be before you get the loud and clear message. We have a powerful army, do we not? KP is Pakistani territory, is it not? They have killed thousands of people, that a crime, is it not? They do not recognise Pakistani constitution, that is treachery, is it not? Then what is the Pakistani leadership waiting for? Are they cowards? Take action before it is too late!!!

Recommend 0

Malik

Oct 17, 2013 02:18am

Will this event change Imran Khan's thinking about TTP?

Recommend 0

Imran

Oct 17, 2013 02:48am

Would Imran Khan still like to open an office for these wild animals?

Recommend 0

sohail

Oct 17, 2013 03:56am

Mr. Imran Khan - how many more people are you going to martyr - please read the writing on the wall, and stop your stupid support for talks. It should now be an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth. These are sons of Devils and have tarnished the name of Islam. People have started moving away whenever I inform them I am a Pakistani. I feel you will only be serious when one of your sons/family members are blown up by these elements. I regret casting my vote for your Party. Thank God you did not become the Prime Minister of Pakistan - for you are a big disappointed with your links to parties like the Jamaat.

Recommend 0

Aussie

Oct 17, 2013 04:07am

I think the time for Imran has come to reconfigure his thaugts towards these irreconcilable zombies. He should realize that the only solution to this problem is total elimination of these prehistoric reptors otherwise his party members will keep dying like sitting ducks.

Recommend 0

Ron

Oct 17, 2013 04:43am

Sorry to hear about blood shed in DIKhan. Shame on Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif, you still want to do peace talks with terrorists. Terrorists are killing every day innocent people on name of Islam.

Recommend 0

Shah

Oct 17, 2013 04:52am

Mr Imran Khan, Why the people you want to talk to are bombing targetedly your party - post election!

Recommend 0

Alan

Oct 17, 2013 05:47am

I am helpless , i can simply condemn while those in power / authority should be doing more to find the truth instead of just condemning and giving few lakhs to injurred from tax payers money. (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the incident).

Recommend 0

Oct 17, 2013 06:10am

Does Imran Khan has anything to say or is he still clueless.

Recommend 0

emileunjom9@yahoo.com

Oct 17, 2013 06:22am

It is indeed a painful, sad and serious moment seeing Pakistan held hostage in the hands of those who play with human lives in the name of religion to advance their hidden agenda at the expense of peace that every human soul aspires. Last month it was Christian innocents that were massacred and now PK Law minister along with others is martyred in his own house on Eid day meeting the people in celebration. The temperature is rising while human suffering is spiraling. When and how it will end. I think a point of no return is nearly reached, the Government must take thoughtful calculated steps to nip this evil in the bud before this malignancy spreads to destroy the vitals of our country to our peril. Dr. Emile Unjom, A Christian brother.

Recommend 0

shabbir khan

Oct 17, 2013 06:46am

Ansar ul Mujahideen claims responsibility because he was against DI khan jail attack so Taliban killed him

Recommend 0

s singh

Oct 17, 2013 07:18am

That I.K.issued instructions to KPK.govt. smacks dirty politics which he perhaps learnt from party politicians of Bharat.He is fuelling anger in some in order to avoid their wrath.

Recommend 0

Modi

Oct 17, 2013 08:17am

Imran Khan should hang his head in shame for his stupid policy of pandering to a murderous sect, called "Taliban". These murderers must be confronted with arms and strength head on. Nobody negotiates with criminals!

Recommend 0

khalid sheikh

Oct 17, 2013 08:54am

I am sure that these killers are not muslims.No muslim on earth would kill muslim brothers on the day of Eid killing so many people and injuring 30 persons rendering so many families without their Bread winners.I pray to God to give these killers Hell in this world and thereafter.

Recommend 0

sulyan ahmed

Oct 17, 2013 09:31am

so sorry, very tragic incident

Recommend 0

Sultan Ahmed.

Oct 17, 2013 09:37am

newly elected government still failed in taking firm action against the trerrorists.as for as peace process is concerned it looks also failed,In the meanwhile country ecnomically destroying.

Recommend 0

human

Oct 17, 2013 11:09am

Bakrid mubarrak

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Oct 17, 2013 01:37pm

Is this the "Naya-Pakistan" that PTI offered us during Elections? They can't protect their law minister let alone the public at large.

Recommend 0

Adam Malik

Oct 17, 2013 03:15pm

Is this because of a mind set or reaction of Drone attacks?

Recommend 0

dr vimal raina

Oct 17, 2013 06:19pm

Sometimes I wonder what are these policemen examining? They have enough material to examine since such a long time hat some of them could be phd in forensics. Wonder what they really do there and whom do they report to?

Recommend 0

US CENTCOM

Oct 17, 2013 08:37pm

The terrorists have turned this time of joy and celebration into a tragic incident for these people. Our deepest most heartfelt condolences go out to the victims

Recommend 0

abbas bukhari

Oct 17, 2013 09:41pm

@shabbir khan: not mujahidin they are so called terrorists using name of islam , but they do not relate with islam Quraan say if u kill 1 human it mean u killed al humanity . the attack on jail was police and pak Army fault sorry to say but our Pak army what they are doing in Tank & D I Khan if they can not control the area,,,, Or we can say They are involved with TTP to run the process of ttp with peace talks ??? by the way Ikram khan was a good person God bless his soul

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Oct 17, 2013 11:18pm

Why Mr.Imran Khan is keeping mum on this issue? Isn't it a reaction of drone attacks?

Recommend 0

Blitzer

Oct 18, 2013 01:57am

"The Pakistani Taliban have said they are open to talks. But they also say they will not disarm, do not recognise the Pakistani constitution, and will not talk to the government until the army pulls back from their strongholds and all their prisoners are released." These demands are unacceptable and completely unreasonable -- it's as if the TTP leadership is altogether insincere in the negotiations. Let's try and negotiate with the these scumbags and see where the talks go. If they fail, Pakistan's Armed Forces should destroy this existential threat with all its might.

Recommend 0

Tojo

Oct 18, 2013 02:37am

What does Imran Khan have to say now? Does he still favour peaceful negotiations with the terrorists????

Recommend 0

Kammi Kameen

Oct 18, 2013 05:48am

@Mary: Then howcome the Taliban always accept responsibility for these deeds, and never deny publicly their involvements in the attacks?

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Oct 18, 2013 09:16am

No reaction and no comments from Imran Khan and his PTI facebook and tele-complaint warriors! Perhaps Mr.Gandapur was less important and his killers were less brutal than Zohra Shahid's that jolted the entire PTI and the shocks of her death were even felt in London as well!

Recommend 0

DHAMMI

Oct 18, 2013 01:05pm

@Imran: Yes Mate ,he will, because Islam is a Religion of Peace(Quote :IMRAN kHAN). DHAMMI

Recommend 0