Islamabad, May 8, IRNA – Unidentified gunmen shot dead a senior police officer in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta early Tuesday, police sources said.

Shahnawaz Khan, Senior Superintendent Police, Crime Investigation Department (CID), was returning home after morning prayers when gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on him in Satellite Town area.

Khan was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of wounds, doctors said.

Police sources said that the slain police officer had been receiving threats from banned militant and separatist groups for some time as he had conducted successful raids against them.

The police sources said that he was on the hit list of banned outfits.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The police declared alert on check points in the city and exit points to apprehend the attackers.

Militant and anti-government separatist groups routinely target security forces and police in their campaign.

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has seen series of target attacks in recent months. Dozens of people have also lost lives in sectarian-motivated attacks in Balochistan