A woman police constable and a lecturer were shot dead in separate attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, police officials said on Saturday.
In the first attack in Kech district, the woman police constable, identified as Shakeela, was gunned down when she was traveling in a private vehicle with her husband and two children to a local court in Turbat city for duty.
She is second woman constable who was killed by unknown armed men in Balochistan in less than a month. On April 19, another woman cop, Malik Naz Baloch, was killed during a shootout with militants in Khuzdar district.
Imran Qureshi, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police in Makran Division, said Shakeela was targeted near a farm in Turbat while she was traveling with her spouse and eight- and six-month-old sons.
“Lady constable Shakeela was killed on the spot while her husband and eight-year-old son were injured,” DIG Qureshi said. “Shakeela’s six-month kid who was in her lap escaped the attack miraculously.”
No group immediately claimed responsibility for what the police called the targeted killing.
Shakeela joined the police force in 2015 but she was receiving threats from militant groups for the last few months, asking her to quit her job.
“Shakeela’s husband was also a member of a banned terrorist group but he later surrendered,” DIG Qureshi said. “It was a brutal attack because more than 30 bullets were fired on her vehicle despite a woman and children sitting inside the vehicle.”
In the second incident, Muhammad Hayat Ghamkhuwar, a lecturer and famous Brahvi-language poet, was killed in Mengal Abad area of Balochistan’s Nushki city.
Nasheeb Pirkani, the Nushki police station in-charge, said unidentified gunmen targeted Hayat when he was going to Nushki Bazar from his home.
“Hayat was shot multiple times,” Pirkani told Arab News. “The body has been shifted to the hospital and search for the attackers is underway.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Ghamkhuwar’s killing either.
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist incidents in Nushki and Turbat districts, and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat and Lady Constable Shakeela.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the terrorist incident in Kech district of Balochistan.
He prayed for the lady constable who was martyred in the incident and for grant of patience and perseverance for the martyr’s family. He issued instructions for immediate medical assistance to the injured.
He said the sacrifices of the martyrs in the war against terrorism will not go in vain, adding, “The government is determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.”
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau describing the incidents as an act of open terrorism and brutality. He has sought an immediate report on the attacks and vowed that those responsible will not escape the grip of the law.
Ziaullah Langau added that targeting women and innocent civilians reflects the most ruthless mindset of terrorists, stressing that such elements deserve no leniency. He assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice at all costs and emphasized that the writ of the state will be upheld to ensure the elimination of terrorism.
Separately, Bannu police has killed five highly dangerous and wanted militants during multiple intelligence-based operations during last 24 hours.
The killed militants were identified as Hayatullah, a key target killer of the Zargul group; Asad Yar and Naimatullah, who were allegedly involved in the Choki Fateh Khel attack, Mansoor and one unidentified terrorist. Police said that slain militants were wanted for attacks on security forces, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and and civilians.
Moreover, police on Saturday killed two suspected terrorists involved in the killing of a Rescue 1122 driver, while another terrorist was also killed in a separate operation, according to Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan.
Senior comrade killed
Hayat Khan, the elder brother of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) cadre Bahot, was reportedly killed by the Bashir Zeb-led group of the BLA.
The assassination was reportedly triggered by the unauthorized kidnapping of the vice chancellor of Gwadar University. The killing highlights a widening rift and fierce competition for control and influence between different factions of the militant group. According to sources, more target killings and shoot down orders are expected in the coming days by the fighting groups and factions.
Recently, Australia imposed targeted counter-terrorism financing sanctions on the BLA and three of its senior leaders. Announced by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the measures aim to disrupt the group’s financial networks, operations, and recruitment in response to deadly attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Pakistan.