Pakistani Sunni Muslim militant leader and member of Parliament Azam Tariq was among five people killed in an attack on his car on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad.

Police and officials of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan party said three bodyguards and the driver of the vehicle were also shot and killed.

Sipah-e-Sahaba (Soldiers of Mohammad's Companions) is one of seven Islamic militant groups outlawed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

But like other outfits, Sipah-e-Sahaba now officially works under a new name and Tariq was allowed to contest a parliamentary election in October last year from his prison cell.