By: Bari Baloch | December 14, 2012
QUETTA – As many as five people – three Shia community members, a Hindu doctor and a PIA official – were killed in sectarian and targeted attacks in Balochistan’s Quetta, Mastung and Panjgour districts on Thursday, security officials said. In Sirki Kala area of Quetta, unidentified gunmen opened fire at a tailor’s shop, killing a man, namely Shabir Ahmed. The victim was stated to be a resident of the Punjab and a member of the Shia community. According to the officials, the gunmen managed to escape from the crime spot. In another assault, unidentified armed attackers shot dead a government employee near Saleem Complex on Jinnah Road, and fled. Identified as Gul Shireen, the victim was a member of the Shia community. Another Shia died at the Combined Military Hospital shortly after receiving critical gunshot wounds in a targeted attack near Shahrah-e-Iqbal. Identified as Khan Ali, the victim was heading somewhere along with Taj Muhammad, when unidentified attackers sprayed him with bullets. Taj Muhammad was also hit by bullets and was stated to be in serious condition. Both the men belonged to the Hazara community, the officials said. The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed the responsibility for the killings of the three Shias. The Tahafuz-e-Azadari Council meanwhile strongly condemned the killings, and called a countrywide protest demonstration on Friday. In Mastung district, a bike-borne armed duo mowed down a doctor, namely Dr Lakshmi Chand, and fled the crime scene. According to a senior police officer, Dr Chand was heading towards his clinic from his residence when attacked. An attempt to kidnap him was made a few months back,” added the Mastung DSP.PML-N leader Santosh Kumar condemned the killing of the doctor, and criticised the government for its inability to provide security to the Hindu community. He said that several Hindus had been kidnapped but no accused was brought to justice so far. A PIA official was shot and killed by unidentified attackers in Chatkan area of Panjgour district, bordering Iran. Yasir Arafat, Panjgour airport manager, was passing through Chatkan Bazaar, when the armed men raked his car with bullets. Arafat died instantly. A police party rushed and moved the body to the district headquarters hospital for medico-legal formalities. The victim was stated to be a resident of the Punjab. The motive behind the killing could not be ascertained until the filing of this report. The security officials said separate murder cases had been registered and investigation was in progress.
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