QUETTA, Pakistan: The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Hamid Shakeel was among 30 police officials martyred this year in Balochistan.
Balochistan province that gained peace in past is drifting again towards uncertain law and order situation. A number of newspapers in the province have closed down as newspaper offices are being attacked regularly while more than 18 press clubs have been locked up and journalistic activities have been suspended.
Last two months have been difficult for journalist community because terrorists are after them and they are virtually unguarded while performing their duties.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep concern over the ever-increasing danger of attacks on working journalists in Balochistan by extremists and religious bigots, and they are increasing by the day. Journalist community claims that civil and military leadership of the province are not taking problems of journalists seriously and even is not ready to meet with journalists to listen their problems.
This year, the insurgency-hit Balochistan Province has once again been nightmare for officials of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) as at least 30 police officials have so far lost their lives in the line of duty in various bomb blasts and targeted attacks.
Earlier on January 28 this year, Police Inspector Hidayatullah Kolachi and another policeman were killed when unknown assailants targeted a police vehicle in Dera Murad Jamali District of Balochistan.
Three more policemen were gunned down in Saryab Road area Quetta on June 11 when unidentified miscreants while riding motorcycles attacked a Police Check Post.
Likewise on June 23, a suicide blast ripped through the Office of Balochistan Police Chief on Gulistan road of Quetta which resulted in deaths of seven policemen.
Later on July 10, the District Police Officer (DP) of Qilla Abdullah Sajid Khan Mohmand, his security guard and driver were martyred in a suicide blast that occurred in the border town of Chaman in Balochistan’s Qilla Abdullah District.
Four policemen including Superintendent of Police Quaidabad Mubarak Shah were killed by some unknown assailants in Killi Deba area of Quetta on July 13 while on October 18, a suicide bomber struck his explosive-laden auto-rickshaw with a police truck on Sibi Road in Quetta, leaving seven police personnel martyred.
In addition, Police Inspector Abdul Salam was also shot dead on Qambrani Road in Quetta on October 18 in a targeted attack.
The DIG Hamid Shakeel left his home for office on Thursday morning; however as he reached near Chaman Housing Scheme, a suicide bomber targeted his vehicle.
As a result, Hamid Shakeel, his driver Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Ramzan and six other people received serious injuries. They were taken to Civil Hospital Quetta wherein three of the injured including AIG Hamid Shakeel and his driver took their last breath while receiving treatment.
The injured were identified as three Constables including Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Imran and Ainuddin, and three Civilians including Numan, Abdul Ghani and Muhammad Anwar.
Meanwhile, the Director Civil Defence Aslam Tareen said while confirming to media that it was a suicide blast in Quetta.
The Director Civil Defence said that 10 to 15 kilograms of explosive material was used in the blast.
In a statement, the Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has strongly condemned the bomb attack on police vehicle in Quetta.
Talking to a media, he expressed deep sorrow and grief over martyrdom of DIG Hamid Shakeel and his driver in the incident.
Sanaullah Zehri also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families of the people martyred in the suicide attack.
The Chief Minister termed this act as coward, and said that coward enemies cannot demoralize security forces morale and no effort would be spared to take them to task. He said that police and other concerned institutions were rendering their lives for the establishment of peace.
