GILGIT, Nov 30: A local leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) was shot dead outside his house here on Friday morning, police said.

According to Superintendent of Police Wasal Khan, unidentified men opened fire on Ubaidur Rehman when he came out of his house to go to work, killing him on the spot.

Panic and fear gripped the town after the incident and streets were deserted.

The SP said the murder appeared to be an incident of terrorism, adding that exact motive of the attack could be determined only after the investigation which had been started.

He said four suspects had been taken into custody upon the basis of lead provided by intelligence agencies. Search for another suspect was on and raids were being conducted. “We have credible information and we are about to know why he (Ubaidur Rehman) has been slain,” he said.

Security has been tightened in town and paramilitary troops have intensified patrolling.

A large number of people attended the funeral of Mr Rehman. The atmosphere became charged with tension as JUI-F supporters started raising slogans against the government.

The JUI-F workers took out a procession and blocked roads and set tyres on fire in protest against the killing of their leader.

Also, the party withdrew its members from peace committees and mosque boards. “We are no more members and part of Masajid boards as they have targeted our efforts for peace,” said Maulana Attaullah Shahab, general secretary of the Gilgit-Baltistan chapter of JUI-F.

He said killers were agents of the enemies trying to destroy the foundation of brotherhood.