Militants kill tribal leader in northwestern Pakistan
Iran Press TV
Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:16PM GMT
Heavily-armed militants have shot and killed a prominent regional leader and injured several others in Pakistan's troubled northwest tribal region, security officials say.
Local security officials said Malik Mulla Khel Afridi was killed when a group of militants armed with guns and rockets attacked a meeting in the northwestern town of Nowshera on Saturday, English-language newspaper Dawn reported.
Security sources said the attackers managed to flee the scene before the tribal policemen cordoned off the area.
Afridi, who was a prominent regional leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice or PTI), had played a significant role in raising awareness among the tribal population.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has strongly condemned the murder and described it as a tragic incident.
Pro-Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted the leaders for leading resistance against militant groups in the troubled region.
In a separate development, at least four Pakistani soldiers were injured in an attack in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan.
The attack on the convoy of paramilitary troops happened in the Bolan district close to the provincial capital, Quetta. The troops were carrying out an operation against Baloch militants in the troubled area.
Despite the Pakistani government's operations against militants and terrorists, they are still able to spread their influence in various regions of the country.
JR/SS
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