PESHAWAR, Feb 17 An unidentified man shot dead another faith healer (pir) outside his residence here on Tuesday.

The incident was reported at Khan Mast Colony in limits of Yakatut police station. The deceased was known as Agha Jee. A complainant, Syed Arshad Shah, told the police that an unidentified man knocked at the door of his house at about 12.30pm and told him that he wanted to meet his father.

“I gave the message to my father, Syed Phool Badshah Bukhari, who came out and was talking with the guest while I went inside. In the meantime fire shots were heard,” he said in a report, adding that as he ran to the gate, his father was lying in a pool of blood and the man had disappeared.

The faith healer was shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in precarious condition where he succumbed to his injuries. His son did not nominate anyone in the case, stating that he would identify the accused in identification parade.

A source said that the faith healer had received threatening letters a few weeks ago and was intimidated to stop preparing amulets. Hundreds of followers used to visit him every day and they held him in high esteem. Police officials said a case against the unidentified person was registered but no one could be arrested immediately.

Agha Jee was the fourth faith healer killed during the past few months. Pir Samiullah was perhaps the first victim who was killed in Swat by the Taliban. Pir Rafiullah was kidnapped from Nowshera and his beheaded body was found in Matani area of Peshawar. While Pir Juma Khan was kidnapped from Dir Lower and his beheaded body was found near Swat.

A number of other faith healers in Peshawar have also been threatened who have approached the police for protection.

MEN HELD

Peshawar police claimed to have arrested members of an inter-provincial car-lifter group and recovered a snatched car from their possession.

A spokesman for the police told reporters that the accused had hired a taxi from Kohat at Rs3,000 for University Town Peshawar; as they reached there they snatched the vehicle from driver Hamid Iqbal. They also took away Rs1,000 in cash and cellular phone from him.

The accused, identified as Faizan and Ikramullah, were arrested after raids and the car was recovered. A case against was registered at Tehkal police station.