Taliban claim responsibility for killing ministers son
By Waseem Ahmad Shah
Monday, 26 Jul, 2010
PESHAWAR:
The proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the killing of Mian Rashid Hussain, the only son of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.
Pabbi police registered an FIR against three attackers on the basis of a statement of Mian Amjad, a relative of the minister who was injured in the attack. He is admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital. He said two of the attackers sported beard and one was clean shaven.
Mian Rashid, meanwhile, was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Pabbi amid tight security. A large number of police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were deployed for the occasion.
The funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, federal ministers Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Arbab Mohammad Zahir, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, provincial assemblys Speaker Kiramatullah Chagharmathi, Deputy Speaker Khushdil Khan, Advocate-General Asadullah Khan Chamkani, provincial ministers and MPAs.
Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani and Peshawar Corps Commander Asif Yaseen called on Mian Iftikhar and offered fateha. The corps commander laid a floral wreath at the grave of Mian Rashid on behalf of the army chief.
Meanwhile, investigation into the murder that took place in Khan Sher Garhi on Saturday is reported to have made little progress.
We will issue the sketch of one of the attackers on the basis of description given by the injured person, Nowshera district police chief Nisar Tanoli said. Investigators, he said, had collected specimen of blood and empties of bullets from the scene for forensic examination.
He said investigators were also looking into the possibility of involvement of local people in the attack.
The DPO said security personnel had been deployed at the ministers home, but the ministers son did not want security guards to accompany him when he went out.
Mian Amjad told police that he was having a walk with Mian Rashid when they were attacked. When the three attackers came near them, the clean shaven one pointed at Mian Rashid and said to his accomplices: He is son of Mian Iftikhar.
Mian Amjad is also reported to have said that the man who pointed at Mian Rashid was carrying a camera and a cellphone.
The TTP had initially distanced itself from the attack but later claimed responsibility. TTP spokesman Azam Tariq called some reporters in Peshawar and expressed his regrets over the killing of Mian Rashid.
But later the groups deputy spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan called some reporters and claimed responsibility for the murder.
He said Azam Tariq was in a remote area and might not be aware of the development. He said six men had been sent to kill Mian Iftikhars son and they had returned safely to their hideout. 
