Gunmen shoot dead tribal political leader in Pakistan

Unidentified gunmen have assassinated a senior political leader in a Pakistani tribal region, local officials said on Tuesday.

Hamid Hussain Turi was shot dead inside his office in Parachinar, a main city in Kurram tribal agency, late Monday, an official of the local administration said.

Slain Turi was the president of the opposition Pakistan People's Party, in Kurram agency and was also an active social worker.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Senior official in Kurram Shahid Ali Khan told the media that authorities were investigating motives behind the murder.

Hundreds of tribal elders have been killed in Pakistan tribal regions in target attacks in recent years. Most of the deaths were blamed on the Taliban and other militant groups.

Officials said Turi had arrived in his office after he received a phone call from an unidentified man late Monday. The assailants had also tortured the politician before he was shot dead, officials said.

The party workers found Turi's body when they opened the office Tuesday morning. Endit