Targeted killing: Slain minister laid to rest in Mastung

Magistrate awards six-day remand to the accused.

QUETTA:

Amid anger, sorrow and grief, the slain minority minister Handery Masieh was laid to rest on Sunday in his native town in the Mastung district of Balochistan. Masieh was allegedly gunned down by one of his personal guards the previous day over a personal dispute.

Provincial Minister for Service and General Administration Department Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Dr Yaseen Baloch and thousands of mourners from all walks of life attended the funeral.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch also visited the home of Handery Masieh on Sunday, with provincial Health Minister Rehmat Baloch and provincial Finance Minister Khalid Langove. The CM offered his condolences to the family, saying the provincial government shares the family’s grief. He paid tribute to Masieh’s services for the community.

A case was registered by Masieh’s brother Naseem at the Zarghoonabad police station in Quetta. Police say the accused was arrested after raids in Quetta and presented before a judicial magistrate who awarded a six day-judicial remand to the accused.

Sources said that the arrested accused was later shifted to Quetta cantonment due to security concerns.

Masih, a Christian member of Balochistan Assembly, was an active member of the National Party. He had been an MPA for the last 12 years.

Masih’s nephew was also wounded in Saturday’s attack.

Baluchistan is racked by a low-key insurgency, sectarian violence and occasional banditry. Christians make up some 300 000 of the province’s more than 6.6 million people but have rarely been targeted by attacks in the past, unlike in other regions of the country where attacks have risen over recent years.

With additional input from the news wires 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2014.