Mansehra Assistant Commissioner Injured in Nowshera
Mansehra Assistant Commissioner Adil Waseem was injured on Saturday when unknown gunmen opened fire on his official vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshera district, police said. Waseem was taken to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, where a hospital spokesperson said he was stable and receiving treatment.
Waseem came under attack in Nowshera’s Panah Kot area while on his way back from his native village, Saleh Khana, in the district, police officials in Nowshera said. He sustained injuries and was immediately taken to hospital. Dawn reported the attack on Saturday evening, and the account was corroborated by a second news report the same evening.
What police say about the Mansehra assistant commissioner
Nowshera District Police Officer Sonia Shamroz said the area was immediately cordoned off and a search operation was launched. She said a team has been constituted to arrest those behind the attack, and a case has been registered. Investigation into the incident is under way, she added.
Muhammad Asim, the spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, said Waseem was stable and was receiving medical treatment. No further detail about the nature of his injuries has been published so far.
Police have not named any suspects in the published accounts, and no motive for the attack has been stated. No group has claimed responsibility in the reports published so far. Those points remain open while the search operation and investigation continue.
A pattern of attacks on officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The attack comes during a period of rising violence in the province. According to a recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, reversing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98 per cent of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59 per cent of the national total, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39 per cent.
Dawn’s report on the Nowshera attack also recalled recent cases in the province. On Thursday night, a policeman was martyred after terrorists attacked a police post in Bajaur district’s Barang tehsil. Last week, four policemen, including a Counter-Terrorism Department official and a station house officer, were martyred while two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Karak district.
In December 2025, Miranshah Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali was among four people martyred after the official’s vehicle came under attack in Bannu. In July that year, the assistant commissioner of Nawagai subdivision and four others lost their lives in an explosion targeting a government vehicle in Bajaur.
Feature Pakistan has reported on the pressure facing police in the province, including a safety net that stopped a drone-delivered explosive at Hassankhel police station and on Peshawar’s drone surveillance plans for the city.
What happens next
For now, the confirmed facts are narrow. An assistant commissioner was injured in a gun attack in Nowshera, he is stable in hospital in Peshawar, police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, and a case has been registered.
The next steps to watch are whether police arrest any suspects, whether investigators name a motive, and whether officials announce additional security measures for government officers travelling in the province. Further updates on Waseem’s condition are also expected from the hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Who was injured in the Nowshera attack?
Mansehra Assistant Commissioner Adil Waseem was injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on his official vehicle in Nowshera district on Saturday.
Where did the attack take place?
The attack took place in Nowshera’s Panah Kot area, while Waseem was returning from his native village, Saleh Khana, in the district.
What is his condition?
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim said Waseem was stable and was receiving medical treatment in Peshawar. No further detail about his injuries has been published so far.
What action have police taken?
District Police Officer Sonia Shamroz said the area was cordoned off, a search operation was launched, a team was constituted to arrest the attackers, and a case has been registered. Investigation is under way.
