ISLAMABAD, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Suspected militants Saturday shot dead the brother of a provincial minister in Pakistan's northwest, according to local press reports.

    The private NNI news agency quoted police and relatives as saying that Farooq, the brother of Wajid Ali, foreign minister in the North West Frontier Province, was shot dead in the restive Swat valley.

    No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But the government blames Taliban militants for such attacks.

    Militants in Swat, battling with the security forces, frequently target ministers, members of the parliament, government officials and their families.

    The security forces launched a major offensive against the militants, led by Maulana Fazalullah, last year, which has killed hundreds of them.

    The Swat militants and the provincial government signed a peace deal in May this year but the agreement collapsed as both sides blamed each other for violation.