QUETTA: Chief of Zarakzai tribe sub-clan of Zehri tribe and senior leader of Balochistan National Party (BNP)  Nawab Amanullah Zarakzai among his grandson and two gunmen have been shot dead during early hours of Saturday night at Balbal area of Zehri district Khuzdar.

According to Balochistan Levies Force, Nawab Zarakzai had been moving toward his native town Norgama along with his grandson Mardan Zarakzai when unknown armed men ambushed his convoy at mountains of Balbal killing the tribal chief of Zarakzai tribe along with his grandson, gunmen Nisar and Sikandar.

“The attackers fled into the near mountains after splashing indiscriminate firing on Nawab Amanullah Zarakzai’ convoy.” Levies Tehseeldar Meer Ahmed said.

Nawab Amanullah Zarakzai was the son of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Noroz Khan but running his political through Balochistan National Party Mengal’s platform.

Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Major retd Ilyaz Kibzai, Kalat Scouts Commandant Colonel Arshad Malik and a heavy contingent of FC and Levis reached the spot while the bodies had been evacuated to District Headquarter Hospital Khuzdar for medico legal procedure.

Member National Assembly and President BNP Mengal Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal strongly condemned the killings of Nawab Zarakzai and his grandson called the attack as another black day for BNP and people of Balochistan,

“This loss has deprived us all, I am lost of words today, devastated to learn that Shaheed Amanullah Zehri with his friends and innocent grandson have been brutally killed in the middle of the night.” Sardar Mengal expressed his grief on Twitter prayed mercy for the departed souls.

So far no group has claimed responsibility of the attack till the file was reported but it was premature to examine whether Nawab Zarakzai was killed by an armed separatist group or the attack occurred following a tribal dispute.

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan strongly condemned the murder of Amanullah Zehri called the attack as a conspiracy against tribal customs and peace in Balochistan,

“Government of Balochistan has directed district administration and LEAs to utilize all resources in order to nab the culprits involved in killing of senior leader of BNP Mengal.” Jam Kamal said added no one would be allowed to sabotage peaceful environment in Balochistan.

However, slain Amanullah Zehri among grandson Mardan, gunmen Nisar and Sikandar had been buried at their native graveyard in district Khuzdar. Hundreds of people including central leadership of BNP Mengal comprising on MNA Agha Hassan Baloch, caretaker President Abdul Wali Kakar, MPA Malik Naseer Shahwani and Human Rights Secretary Musa Baloch participated in the funeral ceremony.

In response to the attack Balochistan National Party Mengal on Saturday observed shutter down strike in Wadh while business activities remained close inside Wadh city.

Deputy Commissioner Ilyas Kibzai later visited the residence of slain Amanullah Zarakzai and assured utmost efforts of district administration to trace down the perpetrators involved in killing of Nawab Zarakzai.

Frontier Corps Balochistan and Levis Force commenced search operation at mountains of Balel to hunt down the killers while the whole Tehseel Zehri has been sealed in order to maintain law and order situation.