Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a paramilitary patrol in Quetta, killing three soldiers before fleeing the scene, officials said.The soldiers from the Frontier Corps were hit in the head while patrolling on foot in Sabzal, a neighbourhood in west Quetta.
“Two of them died on the spot while the third succumbed to his injuries in a hospital,” Khan Wasay, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps said. Wasay said the motive for the attack was unclear, but Quetta was already on alert for the holy month of Muharram, marking the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussain (AS).
Abdul Razzaq Cheema, a senior police official, in Quetta confirmed the attack and casualties. No group has yet claimed responsibility.Separately, four people, including a soldier from the Frontier Corps, were wounded on Friday after intercepting a suicide bomber on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the northwestern Kurram tribal district.
Security officials said the bomber was trying to cross into Pakistan through the Kharlachi Gate but “his attempt to create a big disaster was successfully foiled”.Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the personnel of Frontier Corps in Quetta.
The president prayed for the eternal peace of martyred personnel and expressed grief with the bereaved families, a statement issued from President House, Islamabad, said.President Mamnoon said the country’s soldiers had always defended the motherland by sacrificing their lives for which they deserved tribute from the nation.He said the sacrifices of the jawans would not go in vain and terrorism would soon be eliminated from the country’s soil.
According to doctors, all of the victims received gunshot wounds in their head which caused their death. The dead were identified as Naik Muhammad Arif, Abdul Latif and Faizullah. The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area. A search operation has also been launched to trace out the suspects. Further probe was underway.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said the terrorists have been targeting the security forces as they had become obstacles in implementation of their nefarious designs. "I strongly condemn ambush on FC personnel on Sabzal Road in the provincial capital. I warn terrorists involved in the killing of FC men that they would be arrested soon," he said.
He directed the officials concerned to ensure tracing out the elements involved in the attack.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri condemned the incident and directed the law enforcement agencies to arrest the culprits at earliest.
PM CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACK
Prime Minister Sharif also strongly condemned the attack on FC personnel and directed the concerned authorities to hunt down the culprits.
In a statement in Islamabad, the prime minister while expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives, prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and grant of forbearance to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
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