170 suspects nabbed in Quetta operations: BBC

One of the masterminds involved in Quetta bombing also arrested.


Web Desk/afp February 19, 2013
A girl protests in Karachi against the Quetta bombing. PHOTO: SHAHID ALI/ EXPRESS

QUETTA: Pakistani security forces have nabbed 170 suspects in their operations across the city, BBC News reported

These operations were carried out as part of the government's response to the growing demands of dealing with terrorists who masterminded Saturday's deadly bombing that killed 89 people.

Earlier, AFP reported that security forces on Tuesday killed four men and arrested seven others accused of killing Shia Muslims, including a purported mastermind of a devastating bomb attack that killed 89 people, officials said.

The operation was carried out on the outskirts of Quetta, where thousands of Shias are demanding army protection and refusing to bury the victims of Saturday's bomb attack on their ethnic Hazara community.

Balochistan home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani, and Colonel Maqbool Ahmed from the paramilitary Frontier Corps said the killings and arrests took place during what they called an "ongoing operation".

"Those who were killed were high-profile targeted killers. They were involved in the killing of a Shia judge and senior police officers," Durrani told AFP.

One of the masterminds of Saturday's bombing in the Quetta suburb of Hazara Town, was amongst those in custody, Durrani added.

Intelligence and paramilitary officers also confiscated bomb-making material, weapons, suicide vests and ammunition during the operation, officials said.

The arrests came just hours before Pakistani cabinet ministers were due to arrive in Quetta in an attempt to negotiate an end to the Shia protest.

Thousands of women, men and children have blocked a road in Quetta, refusing to end their sit-in and bury their dead until the authorities take action against the extremists behind Saturday's attack.

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COMMENTS (42)

Khan | 11 years ago | Reply

@Kanwal: yes we could see the "peace" in the air, there were flowers falling around on karachi roads. Ask those who earn daily wages to feed their families about the "small outbreak". I really admire the Saudi law of no tolerance for public protests/ sit-ins/ marches after seeing all this chaos. If 100 people were killed we will add 25 more to the death toll, this is barbaric and removes the sympathy we earlier felt for them.

Kanwal | 11 years ago | Reply

@khan: Alas to you. Instead of condemning the heinous crime you are referring to small outbreak. If they are violent than it would not be a peace protest for last three days and our so called ACTIVE POLICE OR GOVERNMENT would not make it last. So, at least being as a human respect the shuhadas/innocent people irrespective of their ethnicity or cast. Do not be prejudiced/biased.

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