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Suspected militants shot and killed a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader in the erstwhile Taliban stronghold of Swat in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, police said.
Afzal Khan was ambushed by gunmen as he left his home in Kanju area of Swat this morning. He was severely injured in the attack and died later at a hospital in Saidu Sharif town, police said.
No group claimed responsibility for the incident though such attacks are usually blamed on the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The Swat Valley, located 160 km from Islamabad, was a stronghold of the local Taliban till the army launched an operation in 2009 to flush out the militants. Hundreds of Taliban militants were killed or captured during the campaign but most of the top rebel leaders escaped to Afghanistan.
The area has witnessed sporadic violence in recent months.