QUETTA: At least two members of the Hazara community were killed and three others injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle in Quetta on Sunday, in what authorities described as a targeted attack.
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According to senior police officer Muhammad Khair Sumalani, the victims were returning to Hazara Town from the Hazarganji Vegetable Market when armed men riding motorcycles intercepted and fired at their vehicle.
“Unidentified attackers opened fire, killing two people on the spot and injuring three others,” he said, adding that initial findings suggest the incident was a targeted killing.
Security forces, including police and Frontier Corps personnel, reached the scene shortly after the attack and launched a search operation in the area.
Hospital authorities confirmed the casualties, with Wasim Bag stating that two bodies and three injured individuals were brought to the hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, members of the Hazara community staged a protest by blocking the Western Bypass, causing traffic disruptions. Negotiations between protesters and local authorities were underway at the time of reporting.
Reacting to the attack, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the incident, calling it a “cowardly and reprehensible act” and vowing strict action against those responsible. He directed the provincial police chief to submit a detailed report.
Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove also took notice of the incident.
No group has claimed responsibility so far.
The Hazara community has frequently been targeted in sectarian attacks in Quetta, particularly in and around Hazarganji. In one of the deadliest incidents, a 2019 blast in the same area killed at least 20 people and injured dozens.
According to a report by the National Commission for Human Rights, more than 500 members of the Hazara community were killed in terrorism-related incidents in Quetta between 2012 and 2017, underscoring the persistent security challenges faced by the community.
