Four cops killed in Quetta attack

QUETTA: Four policemen were killed when a police mobile van was attacked by unidentified gunmen here on Saturday morning.
According to police sources, two unidentified motorcyclists opened fired at a police mobile van when it reached the Satellite Town Police Station, Pashtunabad area. The officials of Balochistan Constabulary were on routine patrolling when terrorists attacked their vehicle, they said.
All the policemen including an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) sustained injuries. They were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Quetta, but were pronounced dead on arrival.
A search operation for the terrorists has been mounted and an investigation into the incident is underway. The martyred policemen were identified as ASI Ali Muhammad, driver Abdullah, constables Ataullah and Abdullah.
All the four martyred police officials were laid to rest at a local graveyard and the funeral prayers were offered at the Police Lines, Quetta, after the Zuhr prayers.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch, Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Khan Bugti, Inspector General Police Amlesh Khan, CCPO Abdul Razaq Cheema and other high ranking police officials attended the funeral.
The Balochistan CM, taking notice of the incident while condemning the attack and loss of lives, said that such acts of terrorism made the government stronger and terrorists could not prevail but would be defeated by the unity and sacrifices of men in uniform.
The IGP Balochistan, who ordered cordoning off of the entire area, ordered his force to trace and apprehend the killers at all costs. — APP
Shoaib A Raja adds: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack on a police vehicle.
While extending condolences to the bereaved families, he said such incidents could not weaken the government’s resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism.
He directed the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime at the earliest.