LANDI KOTAL: Unidentified assailants gunned down a political activist from Landi Kotal on Nasir Bagh Road in Peshawar on Thursday.

Family sources said that Qari Said Alam along with his two other companions was coming from their house near Regi Lalma to Karkhano Market when their car was attacked by unidentified gunmen riding on a motorcycle near Nasir Bagh police station.

He was killed on the spot as he was hit in the head and face, while his companion Fahad was injured in the attack.

Alam’s body was later shifted from Peshawar hospital to Landi Kotal.

His third companion Tayyab escaped unhurt.

Said Alam was affiliated with Al-Haj Karawan, a non-political organisation of former MNA from Khyber Haji Shahji Gul who is contesting the July 25 elections as an independent candidate.

He was considered a close aide of Shahji Gul and was running his election campaign. During his recent speeches, he had hinted about the threats he was receiving. He was a theology teacher in a government school.

Said Alam remained closely affiliated with another former MNA and now a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Allama Noorul Haq Qadri during his previous election campaigns in 2008 and 2013. He parted ways with Mr Qadri after developing personal differences with him after the 2013 general elections which he lost to Shahji Gul.

Both Al-Haj Karawan and PTI have condemned the murder of Said Alam and announced suspension of their political campaign for three days in NA-43.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2018