Daily Times

MASTUNG: Unknown gunmen killed two personnel including an official of Levies force and his friend while a passer-by child also suffered injuries in the firing in a bazaar of Mastung town, on Saturday.

The levies sources said that the risaldar of levies force, Ghulam Murtaza Lehri along with his friend, Arz Muhammad was passing through a bazaar of Mastung Town when unknown armed assailants riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at them, leaving them injured. Sources said that a passer-by child also sustained bullet injuries in the firing. The attackers managed to escape from the scene.

The official and his friend succumbed to their injuries on their way to hospital. There was no immediate claim of the responsibility as the officials said that they would not comment on who might be behind the killing. However, they said that it was targeted killings. The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area to trace the suspects. Further probe is underway.

Similarly, a police official was also gunned down in firing by unknown armed men in Killi Shekhan, area of Mastung district, on Saturday. The police said that the Head Constable, Muhammad Ashfaq, was on his way to CIA Police Station when he came under firing which was opened by unknown attackers.

Sources said, “Unknown armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire at him and managed to escape from the scene.” The injured who suffered gunshot injuries died on his way to hospital. There was no immediate claim of the responsibility of the killing. The police have launched search operation to trace the suspects.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protestors blocked Quetta-Karachi National Highway, on Saturday in protest against targeted killing of officials of police and levies force.

The heirs of the officials brought the bodies to Quetta-Karachi National Highway and blocked the road. They demanded of the government to ensure arrest of the culprits involved in the targeted killings. Heavy contingents of law enforcement personnel have been deployed to avert any untoward incident.

Separately, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has strongly condemned targeted killing of personnel of law enforcement agencies in Mastung.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that law enforcement personnel were targeted by terrorists. He said that the acts of terror could not stop the government from putting serious efforts to root out terrorism from Balochistan and restore durable peace in the province.

He directed the authorities to bring the culprits involved in targeted killing of personnel of police and levies force to justice.