Tribal leader killed in Pakistan
23 June 2009
A tribal leader who opposed the head of the Taliban in Pakistan has been shot dead in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said.
Qari Zainuddin, 26, who often criticised Taliban head Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a gunman in his office early on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Zainuddin hit out at Mehsud for recent attacks in which civilians have been killed.
Mehsud's group is blamed for a number of deadly attacks in Pakistan.
Separately, Pakistani intelligence officials say a US drone aircraft has carried out a missile strike in South Waziristan, in an area known as a stronghold of Mehsud.
Officials say that casualties are feared in the attack.
The violence comes as the Pakistani army is preparing to launch a new offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command.
An aide of Zainuddin who was also wounded in the attack that killed the tribal leader said a guard entered the room at Zainuddin's office after morning prayers and opened fire.
"It was definitely Baitullah's man who infiltrated our ranks, and he has done his job," Baz Mohammad told the Associated Press news agency.
source: bbc.co