Two killed, three injured as Christians come under attack in Quetta
Two killed, three injured as Christians come under attack in Quetta
Our Reporter
Balochistan

QUETTA: At least two people from Christian community were killed and three among two girls were injured after gunmen opened firing in Essa Nagri the Christian neighbourhood area of Brewery road on Sunday evening.

QUETTA: At least two people from Christian community were killed and three among two girls were injured after gunmen opened firing in Essa Nagri the Christian neighbourhood area of Brewery road on Sunday evening.

According to Police, four armed men riding on two motorbikes entered inside the streets of Essa Nagri and started shooting members of Christian community sitting outside their homes in Essa Nagri.

“As a result of intense firing five members of Quetta’s Christians community were injured and taken to Bolan Medical Complex Hospital (BMC) for medical treatment.” Station House Officer Brewery road Javed Buzdar said and added the attackers managed to escape after shooting.

Two of the injured named Rahid Khalid and Azhar Iqbal succumbed to their injuries while in-way to the Hospital. The family alleged Hospital staff responsible for two death as the injured didn’t provide initial medical treatment due to lack of staff.

“There wasn’t any senior doctor presented in the Hospital, our injured were being handled by trainee staff who couldn’t even knew how to give first aid to an injured who is shot. ”Parvez Masih a relative of the dead said.

The injured were identified as Mehvish, Sunena and Samuel the leader of Christian community living in Essa Nagri.

Police Surgeon BMC Dr Mola Buksh said, all injured have received multiple bullets, the critically injured girl Mehvish had been shifted to Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre for better medical care.

Sunday’s attack was the third attack on Christian Community in the provincial capital in last four months. At least 15 members of Christian community including women were killed in suicide attack and target killing since last December.

Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS or ISIL) claimed responsibilities of Church suicide bombing in December and Shahzman road target killings in April 2nd 2018.

Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo in a statement strongly condemned the firing incident. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and directed Inspector General of Police Balochistan to arrest the culprits. He also directed the health department to provide complete treatment facilities to the injured.

Provincial Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti condemned Essa Nagri’s attack and vowed the perpetrators targeting innocent Christian community would be dealt strictly.

A heavy contingent of Law Enforcement including Police and Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan rushed the spot and cordoned off the area.

The Christian community staged fully throat slogans against Provincial Government and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers and protection of Christians living in Quetta.

“Why we have under attacked, the terrorists freely attacking us but the security forces and provincial government sitting silent on our killings.” Amjad Faryad uncle of slain Rahid Khalid said in the protest.

The Protesters blocked Brewary road and Sabzal road and burnt used tyres on the roads to show their anger against the consecutive attacks against Christian community.