Sectarian violence: Hazara community under attack in Quetta

Two brothers shot dead outside passport office, one other injured.


Our Correspondent May 16, 2012

QUETTA: After an interval of a few weeks, sectarian targeted killings resumed in Quetta on Tuesday morning as two brothers belonging to the Hazara community were gunned down outside the regional passport office near Joint Road.

According to a senior police officer, Mohammad Tahir and Mohmmad Qadir had come to the post office to get their passports made and were attacked outside the main gate of the office at 7.15 am.

The assailants were on a motorcycle and fled the scene after opening fire at the two brothers. “Both men died on the spot and another man of the Hazara community received bullet wounds,” police said.

The bodies and injured were taken to Sandeman hospital where stringent security measures were adopted to thwart another attempted attack. The injured, identified as Manzoor Ali, was referred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for security reasons, sources in the hospital said. “It was sectarian target shooting,” another senior investigating officer said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault.

It is pertinent to mention here that around 28 people of Hazara community have been killed in the recent spate of target killings this year. Some police officers investigating sectarian killings, such as SSP Crime Investigation Department Shahnawaz Khan and sub-inspector Sayed Jamal Shah were also gunned down in Quetta in the recent past. On the other hand, some religious scholars of Sunni sect were also victims of targeted attacks in the provincial capital and religious parties believe that some elements are trying to instigate sectarian violence in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2012.

 

COMMENTS (9)

Jawid Akbari | 11 years ago | Reply

We are tired of police inaction and Pak army's indifference to genocide of Hazaras in QTA. What is the responsibility of the army? Is it just safeguarding the borders? No, the army should intervene in such crucial matters where the stability of the country matters. Such inaction indicates nothing but complacency of the army echelons. A whole community is massacred and physically liquidated and it seems that nothing has happened.

Ali Mardan | 11 years ago | Reply

The victims were waiting in queue for their turn to submit documents when terrorists approached them. They were identified, separated from others and then killed in presence of Police and private security guards deputed at passport office. Terrorists then smoothly escaped from the scene joyously by aerial shooting after committing atrocity. Despite of being armed, the Police and Private guards did not challenge terrorists. This was not the first instance where Police officials distant themselves from taking action or challenging assailants. Such attitude from members of law enforcing agency raises serious concern and questions on their integrity, performance and ability to protect civilians from terrorist elements. I am not sure if responsible Police officials and private guards deputed at Passport office were questioned/ investigated?

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