Two members of Quetta’s Hazara community killed in firing incident
QUETTA: At least two people from the provincial capital’s Hazara community were killed and another three injured after unknown assailants opened fire on them on Sunday.
Senior police officer Muhammad Khair Sumalani told the media that the men came under attack while they were travelling back to Hazara Town from the Hazarganji vegetable market.
“Unidentified armed men riding motorcycles opened fire at their vehicle, killing two people on the spot and injuring three,” he said.
The senior police official said that the incident appeared to be a “targeted killing”, adding that the police and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the site soon after the incident.
Civil Hospital Spokesperson Wasim Bag said that the hospital had received two bodies and three injured persons.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and police have launched a search operation.
The Hazara community blocked the Western Bypass to protest the incident, disrupting traffic. Administration and police were negotiating with the protesters.
Separately, in a post on X, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the incident, terming it a “cowardly and reprehensible act”.
“It cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” the chief minister said, expressing sorrow over the loss of life.
He vowed that the state would take action against “those who play with the lives of innocent citizens”. CM Bugti directed the inspector general of Balochistan police to submit a report on the incident.
Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove also took notice of the incident. Similar incidents have been reported in the past in the Hazargangi area, where vegetable sellers came under attack. Staff Report
