Law college principal shot dead in Quetta

Barrister Amanullah was nephew of Balochistan governor, PkMAP chief

QUETTA: The principal of University of Balochistan Law College, Barrister Amanullah Achakzai, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Wednesday morning.

The reports that he was a nephew of Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai were later denied.

According to the police, Barrister Amanullah was on his way to work when some armed bike riders targeted him on the Spini Road in Killi Tarkha on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

Police said the principal was severely wounded after his vehicle was sprayed with bullets and succumbed to his injuries in the Civil Hospital, Quetta. Doctors say he received eight bullet wounds in different parts of his body.

According to the police, no one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack and the reason behind the killing could not be immediately ascertained.

Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri strongly condemned the killing and directed the police to arrest the culprits and submit a report.

A group of lawyers arrived at the hospital and protested against the incident.

Later, they marched towards the Governor’s House and chanted slogans against the government, while demanding a thorough probe into the incident. They also announced a boycott of courts in protest.

Relatives of the victim said that he did not have any enmity with anyone.

It is worth mentioning that Asad Khan Tareen – the son of senior PkMAP leader Sardar Mustafa Tareen — was kidnapped from Pishin last month. Mustafa is also a member of the provincial cabinet and holds the portfolio of local government.

Asad’s car was found abandoned near the Cadet College Pishin where he was working as mess in-charge.

Last week, the kidnapping triggered a protest as transporters observed a strike and blocked the Quetta-Chaman Highway for every kind of traffic. Hundreds of protesters also blocked roads leading to Zhob, Pishin, Qila Saifullah and Loralai.

The activists of All Parties Action Committee and Anjuman-i-Tajran had set up a protest camp in the Khojak Pass area on the Quetta-Chaman Highway.

Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti had told the provincial legislature that banned outfits were involved in kidnappings, which had become a lucrative business for them.