Pakistan condemns killing of Karzai's half-brother

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday expressed grief and sorrow over the assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai, the half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Ahmad Wali Karzai, the Kandahar provincial council chief, was shot dead by one of his bodyguards at his residence Tuesday.

Born in 1961, Karzai suffered bullet wounds to his head and chest. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, reported Xinhua.

In a message, Zardari strongly condemned the incident and expressed his heartfelt condolences with Hamid Karzai and his family over the tragic death of his half-brother, the Online news agency reported.

Gilani termed the incident as an act of cowardice.