PESHAWAR: Unidentified assailants shot dead a principal of a private college in the limits of Hayatabad police station here on Tuesday evening.

A police official said that the incident, which apparently had sectarian motive, took place at around 5pm, when unidentified attackers opened fire on Abid Raza.

He said that Mr Raza was a resident of Hangu and was currently living in the Hayatabad’s Phase-III sector. He said the incident took place in a market area when unidentified attackers opened fire on him while he was on his way home from the college.

The police official said apparently there were two attackers who were riding a motorbike, adding the assailants managed to escape the scene.

SP cantonment circle Kashif Zulfiqar told Dawn that the slain was a retired official of the Pakistan Air Force.

He said that apparently it was an incident of targeted killing as its modus operandi was similar to other such murders.

Mr Zulfiqar said a .9mm pistol was used in the incident and there were apparently two attackers on the bike.

He said that Mr Raza had apparently received no threats. Police said that the Counter-Terrorism Department would lodge an FIR of the incident.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2016