Hazara Democratic Party says it will stage a protest outside Governor House. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA: In the second such sectarian incident this week, three people from the Hazara community were gunned down in separate attacks on Thursday.
Police said assailants on a motorbike opened fire at a tea store on Shahrae Iqbal, killing a man instantly and injuring the owner of the store.
A few minutes after, armed men attacked another shop belonging to the Hazara community on Archer Road, around 500 metres from Shahrae Iqbal. As a result of indiscriminate firing, two people died on the spot.
Witnesses said the attacks were carried out by the same men.
“The victims belong to the Hazara community. It appears to be a case of sectarian target killings,” senior police official Hassan Buzdar said.
The Hazara Democratic Party has announced it would protest outside the Governor House and Chief Minister Secretariat today (Friday).
All businesses and restaurants on Prince Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Abdul Sattar Road, Qandahari Bazaar and adjacent areas were closed after the attacks.
Earlier on Monday, six Shia Hazarawals were gunned down in Quetta. The outlawed outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the killings. There have, however, been no claims for the latest attack.
Weigh lifting body official slain
In a separate incident, the general secretary of Balochistan’s weightlifting association Abdul Jabbar Khilji was shot dead. He was on his way home when he was targeted.
“It is premature to comment on the murder since investigations are underway,” a local police official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2012.
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