KHAR: Unidentified persons shot dead a tribal elder in Khar tehsil of Bajaur Agency late Tuesday evening, officials said.

They said that Malik Naushad Khan was going to his home in Haji Lawang area from a nearby market when unidentified armed men opened firing on him with automatic rifles.

The tribal elder was critically injured in the attack. He died while being shifted to the agency headquarters hospital in Khar for treatment.

After the attack, local people and members of peace committees reached the spot and tried to trace the attackers. However, the assailants managed to escape.

No group or individual claimed responsibilityfor the murder. The reason of the incident also couldn`t be ascertained immediately.

However, local administration launched investigation into the incident to ascertain actual cause of the murder of tribal elder.

According to local people, 50-year-old Malik Naushad Khan was popular among the tribesmen for his services for promotion of education in the region.

They said that the deceased was also a peace activist and played vital role in restoration of peace and stability in the tribal region.

PRICE LIST: The local administration has taken notice of price hike in the agency and fixed prices of essential items for the month of Ramazan.

Chairing a meeting, Additional Political Agent Irfanuddin Khan expressed anger over lack of arrangements to check prices of daily use items in the region during Ramazan.Besides senior ofhcials, traders, shopkeepers and representatives of Bajaur Political Parties Alliance, consumer right activities and journalists attended the metering.

The participants of the meeting said that prices of essential commodities were increased significantly in the region during the past few days.

They blamed Levies personnel for getting bribes from shopkeepers to remain silent over increase in prices.

The additional political agent assured the participants of making all out efforts to control prices of essential food items during Ramazan.

The meeting fixed prices of several items including fruits, vegetables, meat, chickens, ice and sweets.

The meeting decided that official price list would be issued to the shopkeepers across the agency on Thursday.