HARIPUR, Sept 8: A co-accused, Khan Afsar Khan, has denied involvement in a recent murder attempt on Tehsil nazim Iftikhar Ahmad Khan and said he suspects Al Qaeda's hand in the incident.

The nazim suffered injuries when unidentified assailants opened fire on his official vehicle moments before he parked it on the premises of the municipal committee Khalabat Township about a fortnight ago.

Two Afghan suspects - Saifoor Khan and Shah Wali Khan - had confessed before the police and the court that they were hired by Mr Afsar Khan and Syed Alam Zeb Shah, a local leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, to assassinate the nazim.

Khan Afsar had contested the election for nazim and lost to Mr Iftikhar Khan in 2001. Speaking at a news conference at Khalabat, Mr Khan Afsar said he would prove his innocence.

He pointed out that the Tehsil nazim had recently facilitated the arrest of some Al Qaeda operatives in Haripur and maintained that the outfit might have attempted to settle score with the nazim.

He accused the investigation officer of taking bribe and forcing the two Afghans to record statement against him. In fact, he said, the Afghans were involved in a motorcycle theft case.