Two men on a motorcycle shot dead a Shi'ite Muslim leader in a northwestern Pakistani town on Wednesday in an apparently sectarian attack. The killing of Jawad Hussain Jawadi sparked violent protests by angry Shi'ites in the town of Dera Ismail Khan 280 km southwest of the capital, Islamabad. Jawadi was leader of a Shi'ite youth group in the town and an active member of the community.
The attackers opened fire as he was walking near a town market, killing him on the spot, police said. "We have no details except that there were two attackers riding a motorbike," said senior police officer Aslam Khan.
As news of Jawadi's killing spread, several groups of protesters roamed the town, throwing stones at shops and blocking roads with burning tyres, police and witnesses said. "They're angry and chanting slogans against the government and local administration," said resident Shaukat Khan. No casualties were reported and police said the situation was under control.
Separately, authorities have identified a man killed after he launched a gun and grenade attack at Islamabad airport on Feb. 6, news reports said. Three security men were wounded in the attack. The man, initially described as a suicide bomber, was killed when one of his grenades went off. It was not clear if it went off accidently.
Authorities published a picture of the man in a newspaper on Wednesday, appealing for help in identifying him. Geo Television said the man had been identified as a resident of a central town who had links with a banned Islamist group and had disappeared from his home six months ago. |