Islamabad: Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, a key leader of Pakistan s ruling coalition who survived an assassination attempt last week, has left the country for Britain with his family due to perceived threats to his life.

Four persons, including one of Khan's bodyguards, were killed and several others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the leader's guesthouse in the North West Frontier Province on October 2.

Khan had subsequently been shifted with his family to the heavily guarded presidential palace in Islamabad after the attack.

After reportedly continuing threats to his life, Khan left for London on Thursday with his family. He has reportedly travelled from London to Birmingham, where he will stay with his sister.

Senior ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour confirmed Khan s departure from the country but claimed that he had gone to Britain in connection with a family engagement. ANP leaders said they did not know when Khan would return to Pakistan.

The Pakistani Taliban have been targeting leaders of the ANP, which heads the government in the NWFP, ever since the army launched a fresh crackdown on militants in Swat valley.

The NWFP government had signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in May but the pact collapsed after the militants continued destroying schools and government property in Swat.

Yesterday, militants blew up a home belonging to ANP spokesman Zahid Khan, a close aide of Asfandyar Wali Khan, in the Dir district of NWFP.

Khan s sudden departure from the country has surprised many as he was expected to play a key role in framing the government's new anti-terror policy during the ongoing special joint session of Parliament.
Source : PTI