SWAT, Jan 24: Suspected militants gunned down Matta tehsil’s naib nazim Shakir Khan, his brother and an aide in an ambush near Kalakot on Thursday. Two people were injured.

Shakir Khan, his brother Zakir Khan and three other people were going to Asharhi area in a car to attend a meeting of the Awami National Party (ANP).

The naib nazim, his brother and an aide identified as Ibrahim died on the spot while driver Bilal and guard Mohsin received injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.

The naib nazim was actively campaigning for ANP candidate for NA-30 and PF-86 Ayub Khan.

Some local people believe that the murder is aimed at creating law and order situation to get coming elections in the area postponed.

Two weeks ago, ANP candidate Ayub Khan escaped a bid on his life when his men captured a man while he was planting a bomb at his house. The man is still in police custody.

Earlier, ANP leader Afzal Khan Lala and his nephew Abdul Jabar Khan, Nazim of Matta tehsil, were injured and two guards were killed in an ambush by militants near Baidara in the same tehsil.

Meanwhile, security forces have regained control of most areas in Swat and pushed the militants to remote, snow-covered mountains of upper Swat. Scores of militants loyal to hardline cleric Maulana Fazlullah have either been arrested or killed during the military operation. Maulana Fazlullah himself is absconding.