QUETTA: Handery Masih, a member of the Balochistan Assembly, was shot dead allegedly by his security guard here on Saturday.

Mr Masih’s nephew was injured in the incident which took place in front of his residence in the Nawan Killi area, on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

“Handery Masih received one bullet in his neck and died after reaching the hospital of Frontier Corps near Nawan Killi,” Mir Jan Mohammad Buledi, the Balochistan government’s spokesman, told Dawn.

Mr Masih, who belonged to the National Party, was elected on a seat reserved for minorities.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch expressed sorrow over the murder of Mr Masih and ordered immediate arrest of his killer.

Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani told Dawn that the security guard, who allegedly killed Mr Masih, was working with the MPA for the past 14 years. The accused escaped after leaving his official weapon behind, he added.

The motive behind the murder was not immediately known. “We are investigating the incident and trying to know the reason for the killing of Mr Masih,” Capital City Police Officer Abdul Razzaq Cheema said.

He said initial investigation had revealed that the security guard, who was identified as Agha Ghulam Muhyuddin, had some personal dispute with Mr Masih’s nephew and they had exchanged some hot words outside the house of the MPA.

Mr Masih had returned to his residence after attending a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House just a few minutes before the incident.

His nephew, who was identified as Awais Masih, received five bullets. He was taken to FC Hospital.

A senior police officer said that the security guard, Agha Ghulam Muhyuddin, belonged to Balochistan Levies and was deputed by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department on the request of the slain legislator.

The spokesman for Balochistan government, Mir Jan Mohammad Buledi, told a press conference that the accused would be arrested soon. Police were investigating the incident and the motive behind the killing would be known shortly, he said.

He announced a three-day mourning for the murder.

He said both the slain MPA and the security guard belonged to Mastung.

The nephew of Mr Masih was also working as his security guard.

The late MPA was affiliated with the Baloch Students Organisation and became its provincial president during his student days. He had joined the National Party after completing his education.

Hundreds of Mr Masih’s supporters and party workers staged a demonstration in front of the FC Hospital. They brought the MPA’s body at Zarghoon Road and wanted to go to the Chief Minister House, but later dispersed peacefully.

The leaders of Christian community called for immediate arrest of the accused.

The body of Mr Masih was taken to Mastung, his native town some 55 km southeast of Quetta.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2014