Balochistan insurgency: Militants attack Bizenjo’s village in Awaran

Torch 20 houses, including the one owned by the Balochistan Assembly deputy speaker

QUETTA:

Suspected militants torched the houses of Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Abdul Qudus Bizenjo and his relatives in a village in the insurgency-hit Awaran district late Friday night.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a local Levies official said some 15 armed men converged on Bizenjo’s village in the Shindi area of Awaran district’s Jaho tehsil. “After firing a volley of rockets, they entered the village and torched around 20 houses, including that of the deputy speaker,” Tehsildar Abdul Ghafoor said.

Confirming the incident to The Express Tribune, Bizenjo said the militants offered them safe passage before attacking the village with rockets and other heavy weapons. “The militants torched the houses of my relatives but no one was injured in the attack,” he said.

Calling the incident an act of terrorism, the deputy speaker linked the attack with the ongoing insurgency in the district. “The government has already offered them (guerrilla fighters) a reconciliation package to quit militancy and become part of the national mainstream. Such incidents of torching houses will not resolve any issue,” he said.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility of the attack. The attack comes amid official claims of over 70% decline in terrorist activities in Balochistan.

Two Levies men shot dead

Two officials of Balochistan Levies, Liaquat Ali and Jamal Ahmed, were gunned down by unidentified suspects in the in Mashkay area of Awaran district.

Balochistan Levies Naib Risaldar Wasim Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the deceased were on their way on a motorcycle when armed men riding another motorcycle targeted them. Levies have registered a case and started investigations, he said.

Meanwhile a man identified as Wahid Rakshani, was gunned down in Naal area of Khuzdar district on Saturday.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2015.