At least two members of the Christian community were killed and five others injured in a firing incident near a church in Quetta, a private TV channel reported.
The incident occurred when worshippers were leaving after attending the Sunday service at a church in Essa Nagri area of the provincial capital, according to DIG Quetta Abdur Razzaq Cheema. Unidentified attackers riding a motorbike opened fire on the members of the Christian community and managed to flee the scene soon after the incident, he said.
The injured were rushed to the Bolan Medical Complex where two of them succumbed to their injuries, the hospital officials said.
The Christian community staged a protest demonstration along with the dead bodies against the government’s failure to end attacks. They blocked the Barori Road near Golimar Chowk for all traffic.
Earlier this month, four members of a Christian family travelling in a rickshaw were killed in a firing incident on Quetta’s Shah Zaman road. The Christian family belonged to Punjab and had come to Quetta to see relatives.
In December last year, nine people were killed and 30 injured in a suicide attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church on Quetta’s Zarghoon Road.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. He said those involved in the attack will not be spared.
Published in Daily Times, April 16th 2018.