In a major breakthrough in the murder investigation of former Kohat District Nazim Malik Asad Khan, police have arrested five suspects — including Pakistan Peoples Party's Provincial Information Secretary Malik Amjad Afridi — for their alleged involvement in the assassination.
Addressing a press briefing at the Kohat Police Club, District Police Officer Dr. Zaidullah Khan confirmed the arrests and revealed details about the conspiracy.
“The entire planning of Malik Asad’s murder was carried out at the residence of Malik Amjad Afridi,” he said.
The accused include Malik Amjad Afridi, his nephew Hussain Afridi, and three others identified as Hashim alias Sheno Gulzeb, Nemat Amir, and Yasir.
One of the accused, Amir, was apprehended from Islamabad and reportedly confessed during interrogation, leading to the arrests of the others.
Police stated that weapons were recovered from all suspects at the time of arrest. They have been remanded into custody — Afridi for five days, and the remaining four for seven days — to assist in ongoing investigations.
Authorities allege that Afridi and his nephew provided shelter to the killers and helped them escape after the incident.
The high-profile murder took place on April 15, 2025, when Malik Asad was shot dead in a vehicle on Pindi Road near Gambat, while a colleague accompanying him was critically injured. An FIR was registered at the Gambat Police Station against unknown assailants, but today’s revelations suggest the crime was politically motivated and meticulously premeditated.
Malik Asad was the cousin of former KP IG Police Malik Naveed, and the brother of CCPO Peshawar Malik Saad Shaheed.
Meanwhile, Malik Amjad Afridi, now under arrest, hails from a politically influential family as well — he is the brother of ex-Federal Minister Abbas Afridi and son of Senator Shamim Afridi.
Police say further interrogations are underway to determine the motive and full extent of the conspiracy. Authorities have vowed to ensure justice is served in what is being seen as one of Kohat’s most sensitive and politically charged murder cases in recent years.