Five Hazaras killed in Quetta firing

QUETTA: Gunmen killed five people after storming two teashops in Quetta on Sunday, police said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and MQM chief Altaf Hussain have strongly condemned the killing of Hazara community members. Meanwhile, three militants were killed during a search operation in Kalat on Sunday.
“Two gunmen, one each,stormed two teashops belonging to the Hazara community in the Meezan Chowk and started indiscriminate firing,” local police official Muhammad Tariq said.Abdul Razzaq Cheema, city police chief, confirmed the incident. “The assailants fled on a motorbike after spraying bullets on the teashops. Police are searching for the suspects,” he said.
Later, around 500 people from the Hazara community took to the streets in protest against the incident carrying the coffins of the deceased, refusing to bury them. They placed the coffins of the victims on the road and chanted slogans against the government for failing to protect them. “We are facing a genocide and the government makes only empty promises instead of providing protection,” Husnain Ali, a protestor in his early 20s, said. He said he would sit on the road with the bodies until the perpetrators are arrested.
According to another media report at least five people, including a father and son, were killed by unknown gunmen near Bacha Khan Chowk on Sunday.Police said suspected militants opened fire at two shops near Bacha Khan Chowk, the city’s commercial hub.
Four people, Mohammad Ali, Kazim, Zeeshan and Nematullah, died on the spot while one injured was rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta for medical treatment. However, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Relatives of the deceased staged a protest at Meezan Chowk and called for the arrest of the attackers. Soon after the incident, markets were immediately shut down in various areas of the city including Circular Road, Mission Road, and Sooraj Ganj Bazaar.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday strongly condemned the incident of firing in Quetta in which members of the Hazara community lost their lives.Meanwhile, security forces on Saturday killed three terrorists and destroyed their numerous hideouts during a search operation conducted in the mountains of Johan in Kalat.
The terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with the security forces. Helicopter aid was also provided to the security forces. Three cars, motorcycles and explosives in the possession of the terrorists were also destroyed.
According to a statement issued in Islamabad, the prime minister has sought a report into the incident and asked the authorities to apprehend the criminals at the earliest. Nawaz Sharif also extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch took notice of the incident and asked for an immediate report. He condemned the inhuman act. “Strict action will be taken against the elements involved in the target killing,” he said.
The chief minister expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and promised all possible help to them.Meanwhile, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has denounced the Quetta firing incident which claimed five lives on Sunday.
Regretting the loss of five lives in the Quetta firing today, he said in a statement that the killing of citizens by terrorists in Balochistan was giving rise to a sense of ineffectiveness of the provincial government.
The PTI chief stated that he and his party are equally aggrieved as the families of the victims of today’s firing incident. The MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, on Sunday strongly condemned the incident of firing at the Bacha Khan Chowk in Quetta resulting in the deaths of several people belonging to the Hazara community. He extended heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the incident.
In a statement issued from London, Hussain said it is the fundamental duty of the government to protect the life and property of citizens. Altaf extended sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack and prayed to Almighty Allah to bless the departed soul. He also prayed to Allah to give patience to the grieving family members.