Suicide bomber kills tribal leader, bodyguards

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A pro-government tribal leader and three other people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber rammed his car into their vehicle in northwest Pakistan, authorities said.

Tribal elder Maulana Abdul Hakeem and his three bodyguards were traveling in the Bannu district when the attack occurred, Inspector Wali Ayaz said.

The attacker also died.

Abdul Hakeem was the leader of a pro-government militia known as Lashkars, who organized to fight the Taliban in Pakistan.

In recent months, Pakistani security forces have relied on local Lashkars to establish security in Taliban strongholds.

Militants killed another Lashkar leader in Bannu on Thursday when they opened fire on his convoy.