Naseem Shah’s house attacked in Pakistan, gunmen damage main door, car

As Pakistani fast bowler Naseem Shah was busy preparing for the PAK vs SL ODIs, his house in the Mayar area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Dir was attacked on Monday morning. As per local media reports, five unknown gunmen fired shots at his house before fleeing the area. The gunmen damaged a parked car at the property and shattered windows. Videos showed bullet marks on the main door of Shah’s house. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident. Naseem Shah was born at the house in 2003 and rose to fame.

“Unidentified assailants opened fire at the residence of national cricket team fast bowler Naseem Shah. The firing damaged the main gate, windows, and a vehicle at the property. Police reached the scene, and five suspects have been taken into custody. Mayar Police Station has registered a case, and further action is underway to arrest those involved,” The Tribune quoted a police spokesperson.

Five suspects arrested

As per local police, even though they arrived immediately, the assailants escaped. But later, Mayar police arrested five suspects and registered a case, beginning a probe. The police are examining CCTV footage to identify the gunmen. As per local residents, the household is peaceful with no enmity with others in the community. Following the incident, police have increased security in the area, especially Naseem Shah’s house.

This is not the first time that Lower Dir or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has come under scrutiny for crime. In September, Pakistani security forces launched an anti-terror operation in Lower Dir. As many as 14 were injured and seven Dir scouts were killed. In 2011, a bomb blast in Lower Dir killed four people.

The attack at Naseem Shah’s house increases the security challenges of Pakistan’s celebrities. There has been a steady rise in crime rate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent times. Adding to the problems is, increasing influence of terrorist outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the region.

As for Naseem Shah, he has not left national duties as Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI in Rawalpindi. Shah is a prominent figure in Pakistan’s pace attack.