Sectarian terrorists kill five in Quetta
Sectarian terrorists kill five in Quetta
Saadullah Akhtar
Lead

QUETTA: At least five persons were killed, three of them belonging to Hazara Community, in a latest sectarian attack after gunmen opened fire on van carrying them towards vegetable market on Kasi Road during the early hours of the day.

QUETTA: At least five persons were killed, three of them belonging to Hazara Community, in a latest sectarian attack after gunmen opened fire on van carrying them towards vegetable market on Kasi Road during the early hours of the day.

Two armed men riding on a motorbike sprayed bullets on a van bound to carry Hazaras vegetable vendors to near Market killing the driver and four others at Allah Dana street area of Kasi Road in the early hours of Monday.

“We have put in place a system to carry Hazaras vegetable vendors to the market under security arrangement and on all level we have directed them to use the secure route towards the vegetable market.” Abdul Razaq Cheema DIG Quetta told media at the crime scene.

He added, “The men killed on Monday were using separate route where no security personnel deployed for them.” Elders of the Hazara Community had strongly resented the remarks saying that the victims of sectarian terrorism were blamed instead of providing security. In any case it is target killing of Hazara community people and the sectarian terrorists are suspected to be involved in the latest killing. By ambushing and killing the Hazara tribesmen, the proved their strong and unchallenged presence in this Provincial Capital, yet another Hazara tribesman claimed.

So far no group claimed the responsibility and the attackers managed to escape after attacking the vehicle.

In any case, it was a perfect ambush meant to kill the victims on the spot.

Rescue workers and Law Enforcement Agencies reached the spot and cordoned off the area while the bodies and injured had been evacuated to Civil Hospital Quetta. The injured man is being treated at the Trauma Center as he received bullets in his neck.

Police on the spot found 19 bullet covers of 9mm and commence investigations, “We have commence our investigations, more search in the adjacent area will be conducted following Hazaras target killing.” Cheema added.

Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri strictly condemned the attack and asked IG police to submit today’s sectarian killing report.

Hazara Community and relatives of the killed Hazaras protested at Shuhda Chowk Alamdar road and set a sit-in with bodies against the attack.

“There was a pause in sectarian attacks in Quetta city we believe that today’s incident occurred due to Administration’s negligence,” Abdul Qayoum Changezi, chief of the Hazara Qoumi Jirga said.

“We have been told that the Hazara will be escorted towards vegetable markets but today there was no security,” Qayoum Changezi said and added we will raise our concern on next meeting with the security officials.

Provincial Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti visited Alamdar Road to show his solidarity with the victims of sectarian killings.

Addressing the protesters Provincial Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said, the provincial government has a clear stance to against terrorists and we have killed many terrorists involved in killing of innocent Hazara people,

“I want to assure that the provincial government will fight against all terrorists till we purge them from our peaceful soil,” Mr. Bugti said.

On Home Ministers’ assurance the protesters dispersed and buried their loved ones.