Former senator Taj Afridi was killed Friday in a traffic accident on Motorway M-1 while travelling from Islamabad to Peshawar, sources said.

A suspected mechanical failure caused his vehicle to crash.

Afridi died on the spot while his driver sustained injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafee Jan expressed deep grief over the death, conveying condolences to the bereaved family.

He said Afridi’s political and social contributions would long be remembered and that the provincial government stands with the family in its hour of grief.

He also wished the injured driver a swift recovery.

The former senator’s passing has drawn an outpouring of condolences from political and civil society circles.