Daily Times

A shutter-down strike was observed in different cities of Balochistan on Sunday over the killing of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Hanif in a blast in Chaman a day earlier.

On the call of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, all the businesses and public transport in several cities of the province, including Quetta, Pishin, Hub, Sibi, Noshki and Harnai, remained closed on Sunday.

The funeral prayers of the JUI-F leader were offered after Zuhr prayers in Chaman. Thousands attended the funeral prayers for the slain JUI-F leader, including provincial leaders Ameer of JUI-F’s Balochistan chapter Maulana Abdul Wasay, Senator Usman Khan Kakar, provincial president of Awami National Party Asghar Khan Achakzai and MNA Salahuddin Ayubi. Commandant of the Frontier Corps Chaman Scouts wing Col Khurram Javed, Chaman Deputy Commissioner Bashir Khan and District Police Officer Shaukat Mohammad also participated in the funeral prayers.

Chaman deputy commissioner said the suspects will be arrested, adding that all security agencies are on high alert in order to maintain law and order situation.

Chaman Assistant Commissioner Yasir Dashti said a case regarding the blast has been registered with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). He said after the blast, strict security arrangements have been made in Chaman and along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He said investigation by police and other institutions is underway and that they are investigating various motives. He added that no arrests have been made as yet.

On Saturday, at least three people including Maulana Hanif had lost lives in a low-intensity blast in Chaman city, According to police, the bomb was planted in a motorcycle outside Maulana Hanif’s office and as soon as the JUI-F leader stepped out of his office, it exploded, leaving two people dead on the spot while the JUI-F leader and at least nine other were severely injured. Hanif was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.