QUETTA: At least eleven people were killed and three injured when
unknown miscreant opened fired at Suzuki van here on Spini road in
Quetta on Saturday.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister
Yousaf RAza Gilani have condemned the gruesome incident. As per
details, some unknown miscreants opened discriminate firing at Suzuki
van killing eleven Shia passengers and injuring three belonging from
Hazara Community. According to police the incident seemed result of
religious sectarian terrorism.
Police official Ismail Durrani
said the gunmen opened fire on the bus carrying 14 passengers from the
minority Shiite community.
Zain ullah Kakar, head of the Bolan
Medical College, told that the hospital had received ’11 dead including
a woman and three injured.’
The deceased have been identified
as Syed Ameer Khan, Ali Muhammad, Mir Muhammad, Qurban Ali, Obaid
Ullah, Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Ibrahim, Syed Aqeel Shah, driver Raza
Muhammad and Hussain Ahmad.
This was the second deadliest day
of sectarian killing after seven pilgrims were killed Friday on their
way to Iran to visit religious shrines. Banned anti Shiite outfit
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for that attack.
After
the incident the enraged people blocked Barori road and torched a
hotel, five shops, two vehicles, three motorcycle, one ching chii and
dozens of cycles. The enraged protestors pelted stones at mediamen and
stopped them from coverage. Hazara Democratic party has given call for
shutter down strike against target killing on Sunday. Soon after the
incident the police and Law Enforcing agencies cordoned off the area
and started search operation.
Shia Council has vehemently condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
Meanwhile
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf RAza Gilani have
strongly condemned the killings in Quetta and termed it a "heinous
act".
The President said that certain elements were trying to
create a wedge amongst different segments of the society however he
said that the people of Pakistan, with the help of the government would
foil all such attempts.
He asked the provincial authorities to
take all measures for the arrest of the perpetrators so that they may
be awarded strict punishment under the law of the land. President
Zardari also directed the authorities to provide best possible
treatment to the injured. He also prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the
departed souls and for courage to the families of those who lost their
loved ones. Online
