QUETTA: Muhammad Hashim Norzai, the owner of the well-known Kabul Jan Restaurant in Quetta, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

According to police, the incident occurred near Usmania Hotel on Kuchlak Bypass within the jurisdiction of Airport Police Station.

Muhammad Hashim Norzai, a resident of Wazirabad, Kuchlak, was travelling alone in his private Vigo vehicle from his home toward the city when unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire on his vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Police said the victim's vehicle was struck by multiple bullets. The attackers escaped before law enforcement officials arrived.

Eyewitnesses alleged that police reached the scene nearly an hour after the attack. By then, Norzai had succumbed to his injuries. His body was later transported to Civil Hospital Quetta by one of his friends.

A doctor who examined the body at Civil Hospital said Norzai sustained three gunshot wounds, one to the head and two to his arms. The head injury proved fatal, and doctors said he died at the scene.

Police said the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Family members informed investigators that the deceased had no known personal enmity with anyone.

Authorities have collected forensic evidence from the crime scene and launched an investigation to identify those responsible.

Muhammad Hashim Norzai was regarded as a prominent businessman in Quetta. He established *Kabul Jan Restaurant* on Airport Road in October last year, and the restaurant quickly became one of the city's most popular dining destinations.