Eight dead in Quetta market shooting

Police suspect the attack was motivated by personal enmity.

QUETTA:

In another incident of a brazen daylight attack in Balochistan’s provincial capital, at least eight people, including a policeman, were gunned down at a shop on Saturday.

Police said that armed men entered a laundry shop, situated in the Mill area of Saryab Road, where 11 people were present and opened indiscriminate fire, killing six people on the spot and injuring three others. The injured were shifted to the Provincial Sandeman Hospital, where two of them succumbed to their injuries.

A case has been registered against “unidentified gunmen” and investigations are under way, according to officials.

DIG Investigations Hamid Shakil denied the attack was a case of targeted killing, saying it was possibly a case of personal enmity.

Some reports suggested that the attackers were targeting Sindhi -speaking people. However, local residents dismissed these reports, saying there is no conflict between the Sindhis and Baloch militants on any issue.They argued that there is a possibility that the attack was fuelled by revenge.

According to AFP, initial investigations indicated that the victims were “settlers,” senior police official Iskander Tareen said, referring to people who have settled in Balochistan from other provinces of Pakistan.

However, there was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper told The Express Tribune, “We heard the sound of firing from the laundry shop and rushed to the spot.” He added that the armed men, who were on motorbikes, were fleeing when they reached the spot.

The deceased were identified as Police Constable Gul Mohammad resident of Dera Allah Yar, Nurullah and Mohammad Umair from Jacobabad, Sher Ahmed from Bhag Nari, Mohammad Ishaq Soomoro, Abdul Hameed and Mohammad.

The owner of the laundry shop, identified as Shehzad, was also injured in the attack and is currently in critical condition.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2012.