Two Hazara youth slain in Quetta

QUETTA: In what appears to be another targeted killing, two members of the Hazara community were gunned down in the Shahra-e-Iqbal area of Balochistan’s provincial capital on Monday.

The two victims were travelling in a taxi cab when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle. Both victims succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack, while two other passers-by also suffered wounds.

“The driver of the taxi cab and his passenger belonged to the Shia Hazara community. They died after gunmen fired at their car,” said DIG Operations Fayyaz Ahmed Sumbal.

The deceased were identified as 19-year-old Shukarullah, son of Qurban Ali Hazara, and 18-year-old Ramzan Ali, son of Abdul Khaliq Gul Hazara. The injured passersby were identified as Sherzaman, a resident of Mastung and Aslam Jan, a resident of Quetta.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the targeted killing.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2013.