Quetta in focus: Police hunt down ‘two target killers’

CM Raisani announces half a million rupees for the police.

QUETTA:

The city police killed two alleged target killers in an encounter near the Akhtarabad neighbourhood of Hazara Town on Monday. A police official was also injured in the clash.

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani announced half a million rupees for the police party which took part in the operation, in addition to promising them a promotion to next rank.

Narrating details, Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Operations) Qazi Wahid said that the police signaled a car to stop near Akhtarabad for a routine search. However, the car tried to speed away, arousing suspicion. After a brief chase the police called in the Anti Terrorism Force (ATF).

The alleged militants travelling in the car opened fire at the police, critically injuring Constable Riaz. Police retaliated and in the ensuing firefight two militants were killed.

“Police have recovered six pistols, including 9mm pistols, a Russian-made grenade, seven fake registration numbers and two National Identity Cards (NICs) from the militants,” said Qazi.

‘Nefarious designs’

The bodies were later shifted to Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) for autopsy. The identity of the suspects could not be determined as investigations were still under way.

“They were target killers, who wanted to target more people in Quetta” asserted DIG Qazi.

Responding to a query, he said the recovered ID cards were either fake or seemed to have been stolen and had been sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for verification.

Six target killers have so far been arrested by the law enforcement agencies in Quetta, after strict security measures were put in place in the aftermath of the recent targeting of the Hazara community.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2012.