LOWER DIR: Two brothers engaged in currency dealing were shot dead by unidentified armed men in Lower Dir’s Maidan area late Saturday night, triggering a protest by residents who demanded immediate arrest of the killers.

The victims were identified as Nasser Khan and Saleem Khan, sons of Umar Khan and residents of Kotkay Dherai village in Maidan.

According to residents, the victims were returning home from Batkhela in a vehicle when they came under attack on the Kamar Kotkay Bypass Road in the Haya Serai area. Both died on the spot.

The killings sparked anger in the area, prompting hundreds of people to gather at Kumbar Bazaar Chowk on Sunday morning and stage a protest, placing the bodies of the deceased on the road.

Protesters, including Jamaat-i-Islami leaders Atiqur Rehman and Hafeezullah Khaksar, condemned the incident and called for a transparent investigation and immediate arrest of those responsible.

They said that it was a third such incident in this area while no culprit could be brought to justice.

The protesters said the attack created a sense of fear and insecurity among residents and warned that further protests would be launched if the perpetrators were not brought to justice.

Local sources claimed that a large amount of cash was taken away by the attackers during the incident. However, the exact amount, the motive behind the attack and the circumstances leading to the killings could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, district police officer (DPO) Syed Talal Ahmad in a statement said that the incident occurred at around 12:05am within the limits of Haya Serai police station.

He said Siddiqullah was travelling with Nasser Khan and Saleem Khan when unidentified armed men placed stones on the road, stopped their vehicle and opened fire on them, some five to six kilometres away from the police station.

The DPO said that the two brothers were killed on the spot while Siddiqullah remained unharmed.

He said the complainant had reported carrying around Rs5.2 million in cash at the time of the attack, while the amount allegedly possessed by the deceased had yet to be determined.

The DPO said the assailants fled after taking cash from the vehicle.

A case was registered against unidentified suspects and a special investigation team was constituted to investigate the double murder, identify and arrest the attackers and recover the looted money.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2026