PESHAWAR: An important leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) was gunned down in the city’s Kohati area on Tuesday.

The murder of Anwarul Haq, the party’s organising secretary for Peshawar district, sparked protests in the city.

The ANP condemned the murder and termed it continuation of assassination of leaders and workers of the party.

A large number of ANP workers placed the body of Mr Haq on the Grand Trunk Road and demonstrated against the murder.

Former provincial ministers Syed Aqil Shah, Sardar Hussain Babak and other ANP leaders took part in the demonstration.

The protesters shouted slogans against the provincial government’s failure to protect their leaders.

An FIR was registered against unidentified killers at the Agha Mir Jani police station on the complaint of Mohammad Shahid, brother of Anwarul Haq.

According to eye-witnesses, Anwarul Haq was sitting in his shop in Kohati area when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on him. Mr Haq died on the spot.

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan condemned the killing and called upon the government to provide security to his leaders of his party.

According to a press statement issued by the Bacha Khan Markaz, he said that targeted killing of ANP leaders and workers was continuing unabated.

Senior ANP leader and former provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Dawn that around 850 leaders and workers of his party had been targeted by militants and demanded that the government must take action against elements involved in such terrorist acts.

The provincial government, he alleged, had a soft corner for militants, and blamed both the militants and the government for the killings.

Funeral prayer of the deceased was offered in Kohati area and he was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard.

Mr Haq has left behind his wife, five daughters and two sons.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.