KARACHI, Aug 6 Sardar Rustam Khan Jamali, Balochistan's Minister for Excise and Taxation, was gunned down here on Thursday.

The Sharea Faisal police said that Sardar Jamali's car was intercepted in Block 16 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar by four to five gunmen who sprayed it with bullets.

The minister suffered serious injuries. He was taken to a private hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and sources said that he had been hit by three bullets in the jaw and neck.

City police chief Wasim Ahmed told Dawn that the attack on Mr Jamali appeared to be a carjacking attempt. “It's not a case of target killing,” he added.

Mr Jamali had arrived in Karachi two days ago.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned Mr Jamali's murder and offered condolences to his family.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the inspector general of police and the Karachi police chief to investigate the incident and bring the killers to book.

Saleem Shahid adds from Quetta Rustam Jamali will be buried in Rojhan Jamali on Friday. The body will be flown to Jacobabad from where it will be taken to Rojhan Jamali.

Mr Jamali was the eldest son of Sardar Yar Mohammad Jamali, the chief of Jamali tribe.

He was closely related to former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Senate's Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali and former Balochistan chief minister Taj Mohammad Jamali.

He was born in the village of Bakhra near Usta Mohammad. After acquiring initial education in his village, he went to Aitchison College, Lahore. He did his graduation from the Balochistan University.

Mr Jamali was elected to the Balochistan assembly as an independent candidate from his home constituency of Usta Mohammad.

After receiving information about his murder, all business centres and markets were closed in Dera Allah Yar, Dera Murad Jamali, Usta Mohammad, Rojhan Jamali and several other towns of the province.