Two Hazara men killed in Quetta firing attack

Two members of Quetta’s Hazara community were killed and three others injured when gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on their vehicle, police said. The attack prompted a protest on the Western Bypass and drew responses from the chief minister and home minister.

QUETTA: At least two members of the Hazara community were killed and three others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Quetta on Sunday, in what police described as a targeted attack.

According to a report by Dawn, the victims were returning to Hazara Town from the Hazarganji vegetable market when armed assailants riding motorcycles intercepted and fired at their vehicle. Senior police officer Muhammad Khair Sumalani said two people died on the spot, while three sustained injuries.

Police and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the site soon after the attack, while the injured and bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital. Hospital spokesperson Wasim Bag confirmed receiving two bodies and three wounded individuals.

Authorities said the nature of the attack suggested targeted killing, though no group has claimed responsibility so far. A search operation has been launched in the area to trace the attackers.

Following the incident, members of the Hazara community staged a protest by blocking the Western Bypass, causing significant traffic disruption. Negotiations between protesters and local administration were underway at the time of reporting.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly and reprehensible act” and vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. He directed the provincial police chief to submit a detailed report on the incident. Home Minister Ziaullah Langove also took notice of the attack.

The Hazarganji area has witnessed similar incidents in the past, particularly targeting Hazara vegetable vendors. In 2019, a deadly blast at the same market killed at least 20 people and injured dozens.

The Hazara community has long faced sectarian violence in Quetta. A 2018 report by the National Commission for Human Rights documented over 500 killings and hundreds of injuries among Hazaras in the city between 2012 and 2017, underscoring persistent security concerns for the community.