Woman cop, poet killed in Balochistan attacks

GWADAR / QUETTA: A woman police constable and a Brahvi-language poet were gunned down in the Turbat and Nushki areas of Balochistan on Saturday. Police officials said woman police constable Shakeela was on her way to Turbat town on a motorcycle along with her husband and child when armed men targeted her near Apsar Research Farm. “The lady constable died on the spot as she suffered multiple bullet injuries, while her husband and child were injured in the firing,” a police official in Turbat said. Police rushed to the site soon after receiving information about the attack and shifted the body and injured to hospital. The husband was identified as Sunil and the child as seven-month-old Abbas. The official said, “It was a case of targeted killing”. He added police were investigating the matter. The constable was on her way to perform court duty when she was attacked. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the incident. Last month, a woman constable of the Khuzdar police was killed by armed men in the Zehri area of Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the “terrorist” attack, prayed for the martyred constable’s soul and for patience and perseverance for the martyr’s family. He said the sacrifices of the martyrs in the war against terrorism would not go in vain. “The government is determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country, he added. Also, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Constable Shakeela, while calling her a “brave daughter of Balochistan who fulfilled her duty with unwavering commitment and laid down her life for her beloved homeland”. He said the entire nation saluted her bravery and dedication. Brahvi poet shot dead Meanwhile, a teacher and poet of Brahvi language was gunned down in Nushki, police said. They added that Prof Mohammad Khan aka Ghamkhawar Hayat was targeted in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki while he was on his way to Government Degree College, Nushki.