QUETTA Abdul Aziz Rahi Mengal, former director-general of middle education, Balochistan, was killed in Khuzdar on Monday.

Sources said that Mr Mengal was in his van when he was attacked by gunmen on a motorcycle at Azadi chowk. He died on the spot. The assailants escaped.

Police said they had been unable to ascertain the cause of the murder. Mr Mengal was a prominent educationist and writer who served in various positions.

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, meanwhile, said that killing of teachers had caused closure of several schools in Khuzdar, Turbat, Mastung, Panjgur, Chagai, Kharan and Nushki.

Talking to Deputy Chairman of Senate Mir Jan Mohammed Jamali and Provincial Revenue Minister Zamarak Khan here on Monday, he said that hostility among different communities living in Balochistan would severely damage the interest of the province.

He added traditions of communities in Balochistan had been to respect each other's customs and values.