kilometres south-east of Quetta while another two were attacked in a separate incident that took place in Khuzdar district.
According to Levies officials, the four tankers were parked at a roadside hotel when the attackers fired bullets at the oil containers as a result of which the vehicles caught fire. No casualties were reported as the drivers and conductors were in their hotel rooms at the time.
Meanwhile, the other two tankers were attacked by a gunman in Wadh area of Khuzdar district, some 300
kilometres from the provincial capital.
The tankers were carrying fuel to Afghanistan for Nato forces when they were fired upon by the militants. Separate cases have been registered while local law enforcement agencies have started investigating the matter.
Province-wide strike
Also, a shutter-down strike was observed in Quetta and other major cities and towns of Balochistan on the third day in a row to protest the killing of Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Habib Jalib Baloch.
All major roads, including Karachi-Quetta, Quetta-Taftan and coastal highways remained blocked for traffic while strict security measures were put in place by the provincial government to control law and order.
Habib Jalib, a veteran politician and a renowned lawyer, was gunned down by unknown men outside his house in Quetta on Wednesday morning. The BNP has announced a 40-day mourning against the killing while the police have arrested 60 suspects so far.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2010.
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