Targetted attack claims Paktia elder’s life

GARDEZ (PAN): A tribal elder was gunned down in an apparently targetted attack in the Ahmadaba district of southeastern Paktia province on Wednesday morning, police said.

Muqbil Fazli, once a jihadi commander, was a cousin of the acting tribal affairs minister, Akram Khpalwak, said police chief Brig. Gen. Zalmai Oryakhel.

Police have launched an investigation into the case, but no arrest could be made so far, he added.

Khpalwak told Pajhwok Afghan News Fazli was killed by armed insurgents in his native Islamkhel village.

Deputy Governor Abdul Wali Sahi said Fazli was returning from the village after inspecting a school when came under attack around 8am.

He said the attackers were travelling in a car and opened fire at Fazli as he came out of the school. Security forces had launched a search for the attackers, Sahi added.

Ahmadaba district, which is 20 kilometres east of Gardez, the provincial capital, has been relatively peaceful until recently.

A a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, denied hand in killing Fazli, saying his murder seemed to be a result of personal enmity.

The incident comes hours after another tribal elder was gunned down along with two sons in southern Ghazni province.

ma/mud

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