Abducted ex-ISI official shot dead

Khwajas body was found on a road between Miranshah and Mirali,the two main towns in North Waziristan Agency. There was no word on the fate of Colonel Imam and Qureshi.

The Asian Tigers,a hitherto unheard of militant group that had earlier said it was holding the three men,claimed responsibility for killing Khwaja. TV channels beamed a photo of Khwajas body. He was shot in the head and chest and a note attached to his body accused him of being an American spy,channels reported.

The Asian Tigers had released two videos featuring the kidnapped men to the media.

The group had also demanded the release of three top Afghan Taliban commanders,including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar,in exchange for the two former ISI officers.

Khwaja was known to be sympathetic to radical and militant groups. He recently filed several petitions in the Lahore High Court,asking it to direct the government not to extradite top Afghan Taliban commanders and five American Muslim youths arrested for alleged terror links.