Unidentified gunmen kill local journalist in Quetta

QUETTA: Unknown attackers shot dead a local journalist in the south-western Balochistan province, close to Afghan and Iranian border, police said.

Muhammad Jan, 37, who worked for a local Urdu language daily newspaper, was shot late on Thursday while on his way home on a motorcycle in Qalat district, some 160 kilometres south of Quetta, the provincial capital.

“Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using a pistol and killing him on the spot,” senior police officer Muhammad Ali.

The attackers fled the scene, he said and added, the motive for Jan’s killing is not yet clear.

He had not complained of any threats from militant groups or mentioned any family or tribal dispute.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and Ali said police were investigating.

Jan was also working as a press secretary for the Balochistan media council as well as a teacher in a government school.