Afghan lawmaker shot dead in southern province

KANDAHAR, AFGHANistan, March 23 (Xinhua) -- An AFGHAN lawmaker was shot dead in Kandahar city, capital of southern province of Kandahar on Saturday, in a latest targeted killing in the country, local police confirmed.

"Obaidullah Barakzai, an influential politician and representative of southern Uruzgan province in Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of National Parliament, was shot and killed by gunmen in Police District 6 of the city," provincial police chief Gen. Tadeen Khan told Xinhua.

An investigation has been undertaken, he said.

AFGHAN President Ashraf Ghani described the attack as an act of terror and extended condolences to the family of Barakzai and the people of AFGHANistan, according to a Presidential Palace statement.

In late 2016, Barakzai's son was killed following a terrorist attack in Kabul.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack so far and Taliban militants denied involvement of their fighters in the attack.