Pakistan Army officer shot dead

Peshawar: Pakistan Army officer Colonel Tariq Ghafoor shot dead in Peshawar on Friday.

Unidentified men opened fire at Colonel Tariq Ghafoor’s vehicle while on his way home. Confirming the incident, SSP city said the officer of senior rank received two bullets in the head and succumbed to his injuries on the spot reported. Pakistan Army also confirmed the killing, The Express Tribune.

An official described it as “It looks like an incident of target killing.” Citing that “Colonel Tariq had land and family disputes,” he said reason behind the killing was not yet clear.

An official of security forces said he was an acting colonel of army but was on leave and studying at the University of Peshawar.

“Lt Col Tariq Ghafoor embraced martyrdom due to firing by unidentified assailant after Friday prayers near Sarband Ring Road, Peshawar” the ISPR said in a statement.

“The officer was posted at Peshawar and was undergoing post graduate studies at a government university.”

TTP claims responsibility

Meanwhile, the banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

“The TTP’s sharp shooter (STF) targeted Col Tariq,” the group’s spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani claimed in a statement.