Pakistani police probe minister after killing of journalist

Quetta - Family of Anwar Jan accused minister Abdul Rehman Khetran of being involved in the murder

Pakistani police said on Saturday they were investigating the shooting death of a local journalist to determine whether a provincial minister was behind the killing.
The development comes a day after the family of Anwar Jan accused Abdul Rehman Khetran, a minister for food in Balochistan province, of hiring gunmen to kill Jan on Thursday.
Police officer Abdul Aziz said a murder investigation has been opened into Khetran's possible involvement. Khetran has denied being involved, saying the gunmen blamed by Jan's family for killing him were not his men.
Repeated attempts to reach Khetran for comment were unsuccessful.
Jan was killed by two gunmen as he was walking to his home in the town of Barkhan. His family insists Khetran ordered Jan's murder in retaliation for Jan exposing alleged corruption.
Pakistan is considered to be one of the most dangerous places for journalists, and attacks on them are not uncommon.
Anwar Jan's killing comes days after prominent journalist Matiullah Jan, who is unrelated, was abducted in broad daylight in the capital Islamabad. His abductors freed him in a deserted place 12 hours later.
The government has not said who was behind Matiullah Jan's abduction.

• Pakistan