QUETTA: Unknown armed men opened fire in Quetta on Sunday, killing two people and injuring three others near the Hazarganji vegetable market. According to police, attackers fled after the incident.
Following the attack, a large contingent of police and law enforcement agencies reached the site. The bodies and injured were shifted to a hospital. One of the injured is reported to be in critical condition.
Police have registered a case against unidentified assailants and launched a search operation to trace and arrest them.
Youths from Hazara community and representatives of Central Traders Organisation, Balochistan, staged a demonstration and blocked the Western Bypass by placing barricades, halting all traffic. Protesters, including organisation’s spokesperson Kashif Haideri, demanded immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing of innocent people.
Due to the blockade of Western Bypass, long queues of vehicles formed on both sides, causing severe inconvenience to commuters and travellers.
The incident has been strongly condemned by Balochistan’s leadership, with chief minister, governor and provincial ministers vowing strict action against those responsible.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the attack, terming the incident a cowardly act and expressed deep sorrow and sympathy for the affected families.
Bugti instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure those involved were swiftly brought to justice, stating “enemies of peace cannot be allowed to play with innocent lives”. He also ordered officials to provide immediate and quality medical treatment to the injured.
Governor Balochistan Jaffar Khan Mandokhail also condemned the attack, calling it an attempt by terrorist elements to disrupt peace and spread fear. He urged citizens to cooperate with the government in maintaining law and order and directed authorities to ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured. The governor also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.
Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove strongly condemned the incident and stated, “Those responsible will not escape the law”. He visited the injured at Trauma Centre of Civil Hospital, Quetta, met their families and community elders and assured them of full government support.
Langove emphasised the killing of innocent civilians is unacceptable and directed security forces to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
