KOHAT: Former Senator Shamim Afridi has made serious allegations regarding the recent death of his son, former Senator Abbas Afridi, claiming that it was not an accidental gas explosion as initially reported, but a carefully orchestrated bomb blast.
Addressing a press conference at the Kohat Press Club, Shamim Afridi accused unnamed elements of conspiring to assassinate his son, while also expressing disappointment over the lack of response from law enforcement authorities.
He revealed that the Kohat police have not reached out to him since the incident, nor has an FIR been registered. “It was not a gas blast. My son was targeted and killed through a planned explosive device. This was no accident; it was murder,” Afridi said emotionally. He also disclosed that security personnel assigned to his hujra (traditional guest house) were withdrawn just two hours before the blast occurred — a detail he finds highly suspicious.
“I have been in politics for a long time. This is not the first time my family has been attacked. Several assassination attempts have been made against me and my sons in the past, but not a single attacker has ever been arrested or identified,” he added.
Shamim Afridi also voiced concern over what he claims is a pattern of harassment against his family. “My sons are well-educated and have always stayed away from criminal activity, yet they are being falsely implicated in various incidents. This is not just injustice; it’s a systematic campaign against us.”
Abbas Afridi, who passed away in the alleged blast, was a prominent political figure and a former Senator from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was the son of Shamim Afridi, a veteran politician known for his influence in tribal politics and his close connections to both local and national power circles. The Afridi family has long been active in regional politics and has played a significant role in representing tribal interests at the federal level.
Abbas Afridi was also known for his philanthropic work in the Kohat region, where he funded local schools, healthcare projects, and youth development initiatives. His sudden death shocked the local community, with many calling for a thorough investigation.
The political climate in Kohat and surrounding areas has often been volatile, with tribal rivalries, insurgent activity, and shifting political alliances creating a complex and sometimes dangerous environment for public figures. Allegations of political violence are not new to the region, but Shamim Afridi’s public accusation of murder and conspiracy has heightened tensions and drawn renewed attention to the security situation in Kohat.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have urged the government to launch an independent investigation into the incident, while political observers note that the Afridi family’s allegations, if substantiated, could have serious implications for regional stability.
Read also: Former Senator Abbas Afridi succumbed to injuries in Hospital
