Islamabad:
PRI ESPL INT
Taliban claims responsibility for killing of Pak min's son
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jul 26 (PTI)
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the gunning down of the son of a provincial minister, who was threatened by militants for criticising suicide attacks.Mian Rashid Hussain, the only son of Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, was killed by militants in Nowshera district on Saturday.
After distancing themselves from the attack, the Pakistani Taliban later claimed responsibility. Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq initially telephoned some reporters in Peshawar and expressed his regret over the killing of the minister's son. Later, the Tehrik-e-Taliban's deputy spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan called some journalists and claimed responsibility for the murder. Ahsan said Tariq was in a remote area and might not be aware of the development. Ahsan said six men were sent to kill the minister's son and they had returned safely to their hideout.
Police have registered an FIR against three unidentified attackers on the basis of a statement made by Mian Amjad, the nephew of the minister who was injured in the attack. Amjad said two of the attackers had beards and one was clean-shaven. However, police have made little progress in their investigation into the murder. Nowshera district police chief Nisar Tanoli said investigators were looking into the possible involvement of local people in the attack. "We will issue the sketch of one of the attackers on the basis of a description given by (Mian Amjad)," Tanoli said.
Investigators have collected blood specimen and empty cartridges from the scene of the killing for forensic examination. Mian Amjad told police that he and Rashid Hussain were out for a walk when they were attacked. When the three attackers came near them, the clean-shaven one pointed at Rashid Hussain and said to his accomplices: "He is son of Mian Iftikhar." Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain is a vocal critic of the Taliban. He has usually been the first person to visit the sites of attacks by the Taliban and has often made strong statements against the militants.
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