QUETTA: A tragic family incident in Quetta’s Wahdat Colony left six people dead after a government employee allegedly shot dead his wife and four children before taking his own life, prompting the Balochistan government to order an immediate high-level investigation.
According to police, Muhammad Asif, son of Musa Khan, and an employee of the Civil Secretariat, allegedly opened fire on his wife and four children at their residence.
The victims were identified as wife, Bibi Zainab, and their children, 14-year-old Huzaifa, 12-year-old Hoorain, six-year-old Alina, and one-and-a-half-year-old Mehrna.
Police said that after allegedly killing his family members, Asif shot himself and was shifted to a hospital in critical condition. However, he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, raising the death toll in the incident to six.
The bodies were shifted to Bolan Medical Complex Hospital for legal procedures before being handing over for burial. Police teams collected evidence from the scene and launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a video message recorded by Asif before the incident surfaced on social media. In the video, he allegedly accused certain government officials of subjecting him to undue harassment and appealed to the chief minister and other senior authorities to take notice of his grievances.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and sought a report from Quetta commissioner and the inspector general of police. He directed the authorities to submit a detailed report within 24 hours and determine the factors that led to the tragedy, warning that no negligence in the investigation would be tolerated.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also ordered an immediate, transparent and impartial inquiry into the incident. In a statement issued through government spokesperson Shahid Rind, the provincial government said all aspects of the case were being thoroughly examined and relevant institutions had been directed to uncover the facts without delay.
Officials said that, based on allegations made in the deceased’s video statement, several government officials have been taken into custody for questioning, including Under Secretary Aftab Jabal, Director Industries Iqbal Sarparah, and Saeed Mengal. Authorities said the investigation would also rely on witness accounts, digital evidence and forensic findings.
The CM stated that no individual is above the law and assured that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible. He also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and pledged that all facts surrounding the incident would be brought before the public once the investigation was completed.
Police said investigations were continuing from multiple angles to determine the motive behind one of the most shocking family tragedies reported in Quetta in recent years.
