DATE=10/06/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PAKISTAN / SHOOTING (S)

NUMBER=2-308310

BYLINE=AYAZ GUL

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Pakistan, unidentified gunmen have assassinated a prominent Sunni Muslim militant leader and member of parliament, Azam Tariq, along with four other people. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.

TEXT: Witnesses and police say the daylight attack took place (Monday) on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad. At least three gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons on a car that was carrying Sunni Muslim lawmaker Azam Tariq and his three bodyguards. All the occupants of the vehicle were killed, including the driver.

The attack comes just two days after six worshippers from the minority Shiite Muslims were killed in an attack in the southern city of Karachi.

Mr. Tariq was the head of a Sunni militant Islamic group, Sipah-e-Sahaba, that President Pervez Musharraf banned, along with several others early last year in an effort to eliminate extremism in Pakistan.

But like other parties, the group is operating under a new name, and Mr. Tariq was allowed to compete in parliamentary elections that took place near the end of last year (October 2002). (SIGNED)

NEB/AG/KL/TW