QUETTA: In the second such sectarian incident this week, three people from the Hazara community were gunned down in separate attacks on Thursday.
Police said assailants on a motorbike opened fire at a tea store on Shahrae Iqbal, killing a man instantly and injuring the owner of the store.
A few minutes after, armed men attacked another shop belonging to the Hazara community on Archer Road, around 500 metres from Shahrae Iqbal. As a result of indiscriminate firing, two people died on the spot.
Witnesses said the attacks were carried out by the same men.
“The victims belong to the Hazara community. It appears to be a case of sectarian target killings,” senior police official Hassan Buzdar said.
The Hazara Democratic Party has announced it would protest outside the Governor House and Chief Minister Secretariat today (Friday).
All businesses and restaurants on Prince Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Abdul Sattar Road, Qandahari Bazaar and adjacent areas were closed after the attacks.
Earlier on Monday, six Shia Hazarawals were gunned down in Quetta. The outlawed outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the killings. There have, however, been no claims for the latest attack.
Weigh lifting body official slain
In a separate incident, the general secretary of Balochistan’s weightlifting association Abdul Jabbar Khilji was shot dead. He was on his way home when he was targeted.
“It is premature to comment on the murder since investigations are underway,” a local police official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2012.
COMMENTS (4)
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Would the newsmen at the Editing desk ever show some respect to their provincial correspondents and refrain from 'over-editing' the news-pieces. i am sure that this term 'hazarawal shia' mentioned in this piece was invented by a zealous editor, unaware of the fact that Hazara is an ethnic group with roots in Afghanistan, while hazarawalas refer to the hindko speaking people of the hazara region in KPK. Ignorant and arrogant;typical urban pakistani mind set.
There is simply no excuse for what is happening in Quetta for the Police, and the provincial government. Why can't CM be called by the Supreme Court to explain his position of incompetance.
Dear Shehzad, Last monday 09/04 six Shia Hazaras Cobblers were killed on prince road not a Hazarawal... u made a big mistake here Please rectify this mistake urgently.