Gunmen Kill 4 People In Pakistan In Sectarian-motivated Attack

Islamabad, July 16, IRNA – Unidentified gunmen shot dead four people in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta Monday evening in a sectarian-motivated attack, police said. The gunmen, in a car, sprayed bullets at a vehicle of a trader belonging to Shia Hazara community as he was heading home. Police said four gunmen opened fire at the vehicle, on the busy Masjid road area of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. All four were critically injured and succumbed to their injuries on their way to hospital, rescue teams said. The gunmen fled after the incident. No groups claimed responsibility. The banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi routinely claims responsibility for stacks on Shia Muslims. It is the second attack on Hazaras in two weeks. A deadly suicide bombing killed 30 Hazaras in an attack near an Imambargah in Quetta earlier this month. Expressing shock and grief Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the tragic incident of firing in Quetta which resulted into the loss of precious human lives and injured many. The Prime Minister prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed souls with eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. He also prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the incident. Shiite groups have announced strike and mourning day on Tuesday to condemn the attack./end