Balochistan unrest: Govt official, son shot dead in targeted attack

B&R department employee, children attacked in Panjgur district; tortured body recovered from Kech.

QUETTA: A government official was shot dead along with his son, while his daughter was wounded, in a firing incident in Panjgur district on Saturday.

According to the police, Muhammad Yousuf, an employee of the Building and Roads (B&R) Department, was travelling with his children when gunmen sprayed his vehicle with bullets in the Garamkhan area of Panjgur.

As a result, Yousuf and his son, Mehbob Ali, died on the spot, while his daughter sustained multiple bullet wounds.

“Muhammad Yousuf received minor bullet injuries and his death actually occurred due to cardiac arrest after seeing his young son and daughter in a pool of blood,” a police official quoting doctors as saying. The incident seems to be a case of targeted killing. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The police registered a case against unidentified people and started investigations.

Meanwhile, a body bearing torture marks was recovered from Kech district of Balochistan on Saturday. According to sources, Levies personnel rushed to the deserted area of Dasht Kadan after receiving a tip-off, where they found the body.

Sources said the victim has been identified as Mir Jan, thought to have been tortured to death four days old.

Separately, a rocket, fired from an unknown location, landed in the Bypass area of Zhob. However, no loss of life or damage to property was reported.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.