Journalist shot dead in Pakistan

Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a local journalist in north-west Pakistan, police say.

Maqbool Hussain Siyal was killed in a drive-by shooting in the town of Dera Ismail Khan late on Thursday.

Police say they are looking for two masked gunmen who were riding a motorbike. They have made no arrests but are questioning a number of people.

Police say it is too early to identify a possible motive. The family have said they have no feud with anyone.

'No enemies'

The authorities in Dera Ismail Khan, about 280km (175 miles) south-west of the capital, Islamabad, say they are unclear what the motive for the attack could have been,

The journalist worked for an Urdu-language newspaper and a news agency, police say.

"Nobody has so far been arrested, but some shopkeepers are being questioned," cantonment police officer Salahuddin told the BBC.

Siyal's family say they have no enemies but have suggested the attack could have been sectarian.

They belong to the minority Shia community.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Pakistan over the past two decades.

Media rights group Reporters without Borders said Maqbool Hussain Siyal was the third journalist killed this year in Pakistan.

Two others are missing after being arrested by the security forces.