Terrorism-related Incidents in Quetta - 2009

Date

Incident

1

January 4

Armed men killed a trooper of the Balochistan Constabulary, identified as Abdul Hakeem, in the Shallkot area of Quetta. No group claimed responsibility for the killing. The attack appeared to be a targeted killing – the first of its type directed against a Government functionary in 2009.

2

January 5

Unidentified assailants killed two Shias in Quetta, despite tight security arrangements due to Muharram. Police sources said motorcyclists attacked two Hazaragi-speaking members of the Shia community, identified as Muhammad Essa and Muhammad Khan, on Kirani Road.

3

January 12

Unknown miscreants lobbed a hand grenade into the house of a Railway guard at the Railway Colony. However, no casualty was reported.

4

January 14

Unidentified assailants killed four Policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a shootout. Motorcyclists ambushed a Police team on Sariab Road at around 11am, killing four Policemen. Three of the murdered Policemen belonged to Hazara community and were Shia. The outlawed Sunni group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility for the killings, which reportedly appear to be part of a recent series of target killing of Shias in the provincial capital that has claimed six lives in a month.

5

January 24

Two persons of Punjabi origin were shot dead in a targeted killing on the Sariab road in Quetta. The victims, identified as Muhammad Farooq and Shahzad Ahmed, were both residents of Rahim Yar Khan District of Punjab. The BLA spokesman Bibarg Baloch claiming the responsibility for the killings told that the men were killed in reaction to the "ongoing genocide of the Baloch people by the Pakistan Army". He said the BLA had formally asked all 'Punjabi citizens' to leave Balochistan or face the consequences. "Those who followed our warnings have already left, but those who refuse to quit Balochistan will be targeted in the future," he warned. The BLA spokesman also claimed the two men were intelligence agents.

6

January 26

Personnel of the FC had to be called in to maintain law and order in Quetta after fierce clashes erupted between Police and an angry mob following the killing of Chairman Hazara Democratic Party, Hussain Ali Yousufi of the Shia community. Yousufi, who was running a travel agency on the Dr Bano Road, was entering his office at 10:30am (PST) when some unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets on him with automatic weapons. The armed men later escaped from the incident site.

At least 13 persons were injured when clashes among angry protestors, Police and traders took place on the Shahra-e-Iqbal and Jinnah Road. The protesters also torched several vehicles, motorcycles and a bank on the Jinnah Road. Four vehicles, a commercial bank and two motorcycles were set ablaze as clashes continued for several hours. Police later claimed to have arrested 21 suspects, including three activists of a banned religious organization, on charges of killing Hussain Yousufi.

7

February 2

A top United Nations (UN) official was kidnapped and his driver was killed after his vehicle was ambushed in Quetta. John Solecki, head of the UN High Commission for Refugees office in Quetta, was going to office from his nearby residence in the Chaman Housing Society when the gunmen in a car opened fire on his vehicle. Even as the driver was seriously wounded as their vehicle crashed into a wall, the gunmen abducted Solecki, who is an American national, at gunpoint. The driver, Syed Hashim Hazara, later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

8

February 2

Unidentified gunmen killed a Shia trader in Quetta in an attack apparently linked to the recent cycle of sectarian killings in the provincial capital. Syed Iqbal Zaidi, a resident of Quetta's Shahbaz Town locality, was driving home when two men on a motorcycle shot him near Sariab Bridge on Zargoon Road and fled, Police said.

February 3

Police detained as many as 15 suspects in connection with the kidnapping of the UNHCR Balochistan chief. Police sources told the media that security agencies raided some parts of the city and arrested 15 suspects following the kidnapping of John Peloski on February 2 while he was on his way to office. His driver, identified as Mohammad Hashim Raza, was killed while resisting the kidnapping bid. The suspects were detained from Kuchlak, Kharotabad, Chandni Chowk, Ghousabad and others areas.

February 5

A main gas pipeline was blown up in the Sardar Karez area in the suburb of Quetta. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported. The Sui Southern Gas Company Limited chief Mushtaq Siddiqi said unknown men planted explosives material in the 18-inch pipeline which went off, resulting in disruption of gas supply to Mastung, Kalat, Pishin and Ziarat and a power-generating plant in the suburb of Quetta.

11

February 11

SF personnel raided a house in Pashtoonabad on the outskirts of Quetta and arrested six suspected Taliban militants.

12

February 11

Gas supply was suspended in some parts of the Sariab area when unidentified assailants blew up a pipeline while a house was attacked with a hand-grenade. Police said the assailants planted the explosive device under the pipeline in the Killi Mengalabad area and blew it up, disrupting gas supply to several areas on the outskirts of Quetta.

13

February 12

Gas supply to a large number of consumers was suspended after unidentified men blew up a gas pipeline in the Kirani area. According to Police, the militants blew up the pipeline by planting an explosive device, suspending gas supply to over 1,000 households in the area.

14

February 13

Security agencies raided a house and arrested five suspected suicide bombers in the Pashtoonabad area. Religious paraphernalia and pictures of Taliban leaders were confiscated from the rented house, an unnamed official said, adding that, the arrested persons are being interrogated at a secret location. "Preliminary investigation reveals that three of the suspected bombers are residents of Waziristan and two are locals," the official said. He said the five would-be bombers had links with the banned TTP.

15

February 15

A bomb blast in the Wahdat Colony destroyed the windows of nearby houses within the jurisdiction of Saddar Police station. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported.

15

February 18

In a suspected sectarian incident, unidentified men killed the Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat-Noorani provincial leader Maulana Iftikhar Ahmed Habibi in Quetta. Police said Habibi, who was also a regular Islamic commentator on the Pakistan Television, was killed by unidentified men when he was on his way to work. "This is an act of sectarianism carried out by those who had previously threatened to kill Habibi," Mir Abdul Qudoos Sasooli, the provincial president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, said. "The murder was carried out by the activists of banned organisations which are operating now under new names," he said, giving the Balochistan Government a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest the murderers.

16

February 24

A Shia trader and three of his sons were shot dead in an apparent sectarian attack in Quetta. Ghulab Shah, a hardware trader of Afghan origin, was returning home with his six sons at about 8pm when four gunmen ambushed his car on the high-security Sariab Road. Shah and three of his sons died instantly, while two of them were injured.

17

March 1

In an apparent act of sectarian violence in Quetta, unidentified men murdered a man and his son, both from the Shia sect. The motorcycle borne attackers opened fire on the victims at their shop on Quetta’s Double Road, killing Haji Sakhi and his son, Ghulam Ali, on the spot. No one has claimed responsibility for the killing.

March 3

Five Shias were killed in Quetta when unidentified assailants attacked members of a family in the city - taking the death toll from sectarian attacks in a single week to 12. According to Police, the assailants ambushed a van carrying the Shia family on the eastern bypass of Quetta – killing five people on the spot. The slain civilians were returning to Quetta from the Mach area when they were targeted. "It is a target killing," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Wazir Khan Nasar said. Although no group claimed responsibility for the incident, the killings are reported to be part of a series of sectarian attacks that started in Quetta a couple of months ago. The banned Sunni terrorist group, LeJ, has accepted responsibility for most of the recent attacks.

March 5

Gas supply to a large number of consumers was suspended after unidentified men blew up a gas pipeline in the Kirani area. According to Police, militants blew up a 4-inch gas pipeline by planting explosives in Kirani, suspending gas supply to over 1,000 households in the area.

March 9

Unidentified men on a motorbike killed two Shias in an apparent sectarian attack in Quetta. The victims were shot in their car on Kirani road, on the outskirts of the Balochistan capital. "Two men from the Shia community were shot dead by unknown gunmen riding a motorbike," a Police official said. No one claimed responsibility for the killings. The attack came a week after five Shias were killed in another drive-by shooting in Quetta.

21

March 18

The Frontier Corps (FC) arrested two persons and seized 300 kilograms of explosives during a raid in the Sariab Road area. The explosives had been packed in bags and stored in the basement of a shop dealing in automobile spare parts at the Hazar Ganji bus stop. Taking to reporters, FC Inspector General Major General Salim Nawaz said, "The material seized in the raid is enough for making 150 powerful bombs and causing immense loss."

Six Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed in a remote-controlled bomb attack targeting a Security Forces convoy in the Sohbatpur area. According to a private TV channel, a man who claimed to be a spokesman for the Baloch Republican Army phoned various media organisations and claimed responsibility for the attack.

Gunmen on a motorbike shot dead a Police official in Quetta, said senior Police officer Rana Khalid. In another drive-by shooting, gunmen killed one person and wounded another, he said. "Both incidents could be linked to a three-day strike being observed in the province" since the bodies of three separatist politicians were found on April 9, he said.

A Policeman was shot dead and a civilian sustained bullet wounds in Quetta, a Police official said. The official said the Policeman, Niaz Ali, was patrolling on a motorbike, when unidentified armed militants opened fire at him on Sariab Road. Saeed Ahmed, a passer-by, also sustained bullet injuries.

Unidentified militants threw a hand grenade at Policemen deployed on the outskirts of Quetta, injuring four Policemen and a passer by. Officials said Police personnel were on duty in the Hazar Ganji area when unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade at them. Policemen Baqir Ali, Rajab Ali, Nadir Ali and Muhammad Asif, and passer by Islamud Dun, were injured in the attack. The assailants managed to escape from the incident site.

A power supply pylon transmission line was blown up through a bomb in the suburb of Quetta. Suspected insurgents had reportedly planted the bomb which went off by the tower and completely destroyed the 132 KV Quetta-Mastung transmission lines. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported.

A 15-year-old boy was injured after one of two rockets exploded near a small house on the Major Tufail Road in the Quetta Cantonment area. The other rocket exploded inside a security official's bungalow, causing some damage. Another blast was reported from the Dera Bugti town. A house was damaged in the Bugti Colony after a homemade explosive device went off. However, no casualty was reported.

April 28

A portion of the railway track linking Quetta with the rest of the country was blown up near a college in the Sariab area. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported.

May 3

In what appeared to be target killings, unidentified assailants shot dead two Policemen on the Arbab Karam Khan Road. Police said Head Constable Khan Gul and Constable Shamshad were on duty when they were attacked.

May 10

Unidentified men blew up a gas pipeline in the suburbs of Quetta. Officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited said the explosion along the 16-inch diameter pipeline in Mengalabad area on Sariab Road destroyed a portion of the gas pipeline, affecting gas supply to some suburbs. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported.

At least five persons, including a woman, were killed when unidentified attackers opened indiscriminate fire on a customer service centre in Quetta. The assailants, who were riding a motorcycle, attacked the service centre on Kalat Street, Jail Road at around 11pm. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

A Policeman was shot dead by unidentified individuals in Quetta, in what is being reported as another in a series of target killings of Policemen by insurgents in the provincial capital. Subha Khan, a traffic police official, was en route to work at his post on Arbab Ghulam Ali Road, when two unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Six persons were injured when masked men on a motorbike lobbed a hand grenade at a gathering of mourners in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. The attack came as people were attending a Bugti tribeswoman's funeral in a tent, said local Police officer Khalid Manzoor. "The hand grenade missed the target and landed outside the tent, otherwise the casualties would have been heavy… It was a terrorist act. The culprits could be those who are opposed to peace in the region," added Manzoor.

Two shops were destroyed and a shop owner injured when the women's wing of the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) bombed a shop in the Mezan Chowk. The blast occurred at around 1pm in a juice shop in one of the most crowded business centres of the provincial capital, destroying two neighbouring shops and injuring one of the shop's owner. "The blast occurred shortly after a woman wearing a veil left the shop. She must've left explosives in the shop," said the juice shop owner. The women's wing of the BRA claimed responsibility for the blast. "We accept responsibility for the bomb blast," said Gohar, spokeswoman of the women's wing of the BRA, in telephone calls to several newspaper offices. She claimed to have personally put the explosives in the shop. "More such attacks would be carried in the future," she warned.

June 22

Three Shias, including a union council chief, were killed in Quetta by unidentified men in a suspected sectarian incident. Unidentified armed men reportedly opened fire on Talib Agha, Union Council 47 chief in Quetta, when he was on his way home along with his driver and security guard. Witnesses said Agha had just closed his showroom and was driving back on Fatima Jinnah Road when the men fired at his car. He died on the spot, while his security guard Jawad Hussain died on the way to hospital. The driver, Hassan Ali, died at Quetta’s Civil Hospital. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

June 23

The principal of the Government Commerce College was shot dead by two motorcycle borne assailants in a suspected sectarian incident in Quetta, capital of Balochistan. Professor Amanat Ali was reportedly ambushed while traveling to his college. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Two unidentified attackers injured a man when they hurled a hand grenade at his residence in Killi Bangulzai. Police said the two motorcycle-borne attackers lobbed the grenade at a house owned by Mian Khan, adding that Khan was injured in the explosion.

Police foiled a bid to blow up the Rawalpindi-bound passenger train, Quetta Express, by defusing 10-kilogram explosive planted by the track in Killi Zareen area in the jurisdiction of New Sariab Police Station on the outskirts of Quetta.

39

July 9

A bomb fixed to a bicycle parked in front of a Police Station exploded when it was being defused by the Police personnel. A civilian was injured in the incident.

Four persons, including three women, were injured when unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade into a shopping centre in the Muddasir Market area.

Police said Haji Mohammad Mohsin, principal of the Government High School in Sariab Mills, was going to school when armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. "It is a target killing," a Police officer said, adding that raids were being carried out in various areas to arrest the killers.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a Professor of the Government Degree College on the Sariab Road. Police officials said motorcycle borne gunmen opened fire on Haji Ghulam Sarwar, a Chemistry professor, when he was entering his house near the Tariq Hospital on Sariab Road. He sustained multiple bullet injuries and died on the spot. Haji Ghulam Sarwar is the sixth academician to be a victim of target killings in Balochistan during the last couple of months.

A woman was killed and six persons, including two SF personnel, were injured in a grenade attack in Quetta. Sources said that armed men riding a motorcycle attacked a check-post of the Frontier Corps (FC) in the Sairab Road area with a hand grenade, injuring two FC personnel. The FC troops deployed in the area rushed to the location and the assailants reportedly started firing and FC personnel returned fire. A woman and two other passersby suffered bullet injuries. The wounded woman later succumbed to her injuries. "The woman was killed by firing by the armed men," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Shahid Nizam Durrani said. In the Mach incident, Chaudhry Mohammad Arif and his wife suffered injuries when a hand grenade was hurled into in their house.

Two SF personnel were killed while three others sustained injuries when unidentified miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at a security vehicle on the Spiny Road area.

The Frontier Corps (FC) foiled a terrorist plan to be carried out on Independence Day and arrested eight terrorists, seizing weapons from them. The FC troops, which had been deployed in provincial capital after a deteriorating law and order situation, raided the New Sariyab area on a tip-off and arrested the eight terrorists. The troops also seized a hand grenade, some Kalashnikovs, explosives and pistols from their possession. According to sources, the terrorists said, during initial investigation, they had planned to launch attacks in the Mezan Chowk during the August 14 celebrations. The arrested persons were identified as Hidayatullah, Attaullah, Abdul Samad, Abdul Razzaq, Abid Ali, Abdul Rehman, Dadullah and Amanullah. Sources said all of them belonged to a banned organisation.

Two persons, Abdul Hameed and Qamar, were killed and six others sustained injuries in a bomb blast in the Irrigation Colony area on Sariab Road. A Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman said the bomb was planted in a motorcycle. Shortly after the blast, some militants opened fire on the FC check-post in the area. One militant was killed in an exchange of fire with the FC troopers.

August 17

Police said cardiologist Dr Abid Iqbal Zaidi was shot dead by unidentified armed men on the Fatima Jinnah Road when he reached his private clinic around 6pm (PST). The cause of the murder is yet to be confirmed, but the Police stated that it is an incident of target killing.

August 17

A man and his two sons were shot dead by unidentified armed men on Sirki Road. Police said the owner of a welding shop, Sher Ahmed, was on his way home along with his two sons - Shabir Ahmed and Jalil Ahmed - when they were attacked. Police said some unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons on them. While Jalil Ahmed died at the incident site, Sher Ahmed and Shabir Ahmed succumbed to their injuries in the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital.

August 19

Three persons were injured when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded in the Chaki Shahwani area.

August 19

Two Policemen were injured when a hand grenade was hurled at their check-post in the premises of Balochistan University in Quetta.

August 21

An attack on the Jaffaria Alliance Balochistan chief Allama Maqsood Domki was foiled by the Shia cleric’s own guards. According to Police, unidentified men opened fire on Domki at Ibrahim Street, McCongi Road, as he was on his way home after Friday prayers. Domki’s guards retaliated, killing one attacker on the spot, while two of his accomplices managed to escape. The Police said it had recovered two mobile phones and a grenade from the slain attacker.

August 23

Police foiled a terrorist plot in Quetta by recovering two tons of explosive material from a vehicle. The Balochistan Police on a tip-off raided a pick up carrying 2,000 kg of explosive material. The accused riding in the vehicle exchanged fire with Police but later left the vehicle and managed to escape.

At least three persons belonging to Punjabi community were killed and three others critically injured in a targeted killing claimed by the BLUF at Jinnah Road of capital Quetta in Balochistan, when Baloch national parties observed a "black day" in addition to a shutter down strike on the third death anniversary of Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti, former Chief Minister and Governor of the province.

Five persons, including four Policemen, were injured when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a Police truck on the Jinnah Road. Police said two men riding a motorbike hurled the grenade at the Police truck, but it missed its mark.

The Quetta Police arrested three militants and recovered explosive materials from their possession in a raid at a house in Eastern Bypass area. Addressing a press conference at the Central Police Office on September 4, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Abid Notkani, said two militants were arrested a few days back and during interrogation, they disclosed that their other accomplices had been residing in the provincial capital Quetta and had a huge quantity of explosive materials. He stated that late on September 3 at about 2:30 am, a Police party raided a house in Eastern Bypass area, and arrested three militants - Allahyar, Rahim Khan Rind and Karim Khan Brohi - and recovered 44 kg of explosives, 49 hand grenades, two remote control systems, two plastic tubes, one electronic detonator, two non-electronic detonators and one mobile charger. The CCPO added that it was the second gang of militants, which was held by the Quetta Police in a week. He noted that they have been residing in Quetta city for one and a half years.

Unidentified militants hurled two hand grenades on the City Police Station building, injuring 21 persons including six Policemen. Witnesses said that the grenades were hurled one after the other with a gap of less than five minutes.

Suspected Taliban militants set ablaze eight oil tankers near the Western Bypass, when the tankers were carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan. This is reportedly the first such attack in Quetta.

Three Police officials were injured in a bomb blast at the Spiny Road. The blast took place near a Police van which was on a routine patrol on the road. It is yet to be confirmed whether the blast was caused by an explosive device planted by the road or a hand grenade, an unnamed official said.

A blast destroyed a telephone cabinet at the Zarghoon Road, Police said. The powerful explosive device was reportedly planted near the cabinet besides the wall of the GPO Quetta. However, no loss of life was reported.

October 12

Unidentified armed men killed the Balochistan Chief Mines Inspector on Sariab Road in Quetta. Ashraf Ali was a member of the Shia Hazara community. The suspected sectarian killing of the Hazara official occurred in the wake of a statement by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan that regretted target killings of Hazara. Quoting the Hazara community, the statement said 270 members of the community had been killed since 2004.

October 13

In another incident of target-killing, the Jamhoori Watan Party Vice-President, Muhammad Aslam Mirza, and his driver were shot dead by unidentified armed men in the Shalkot area. Police said Muhammad Aslam Mirza was coming out of his poultry farm located at Shalkot, when he reached near the gate of the farm some unidentified armed men opened fire, killing him and his driver Gul Faraz on the spot. The Police termed it a targeted killing.

October 15

Two persons, including a Frontier Corps trooper, were killed and five others injured in terrorist attacks in Quetta.

October 18

A grenade was hurled into the house of the Balochistan Information Minister Younas Mullazai in the provincial capital Quetta. However, the minister was not in the house at that time. According to Police, the grenade lobbed by men on a motorbike exploded in the backyard of the house. Windows and doors were damaged and a wall collapsed. Sources said that Mullazai was in Jhal Magsi to offer condolences on the death of former senator Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Magsi.

October 23

Unidentified gunmen killed an official of the intelligence Bureau (IB). Police said that the assailants opened fire on Tanveer Raza, an IB Inspector, while he was walking on Zargoon Road near the office of the Railways divisional superintendent, killing him instantly.

October 25

Unidentified gunmen killed the Balochistan Education Minister Shafiq Ahmed Khan, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party, outside his residence in the provincial capital. The Baloch Liberation United Front claimed responsibility for the assassination. Police said unidentified motorcyclists shot dead the minister outside his residence on Thogai Road, while his brother’s father-in-law, Hydayat Jaffar, was injured in the same attack. Shafiq Khan is the second minister from Balochistan to have been killed over the last two months.

October 27

Police and law enforcement agencies arrested eight men allegedly involved in various incidents of terrorism, during separate raids in the provincial capital Quetta. On a tip-off, heavy contingents of Police raided various places on Sariab Road, Satellite Town, Shalkot, Quaidabad, Saddar and other areas and arrested the suspected terrorists. The Police also seized some weapons from their possession. Police sources claimed that the men had confessed to their involvement in various terrorist activities in the city.

A senior Professor of the University of Balochistan was shot dead on the Kassi Road. The BLA claimed responsibility for the killing. Police said Prof Khurshid Ansari was on his way to a mosque to offer his prayer when some unidentified men riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire, killing him instantly. The assailants subsequently fled from the incident site. Meanwhile, a BLA spokesman telephoned media offices and claimed responsibility for the killing.

13 people, including two children and a trooper, were injured when a hand grenade exploded at Meezan Chowk, a central commercial area in Quetta. Quetta Police said that unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at a Frontier Corps checkpost near Mizan Chowk.

Two teachers and a student were injured when suspected militants hurled a hand grenade at a girls' school in Quetta. The grenade blew off the staff room's roof and the shrapnel hit two female teachers and an eight-year-old student. The teachers sustained head injuries but both are out of danger and the student had minor injuries. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A rocket fired in the morning fell near a law enforcement agency camp in the Musa Colony area. Satellite Town Police sources said the militants had targeted the troops, but the rocket fell on a house. They said no casualties were reported, as the residents had apparently gone out, but two rooms of the house were damaged.

Police in Quetta claimed the arrest of a top LeJ terrorist wanted in 16 cases and for the murder of 28 members of the Shia-Hazara community in target killings in the provincial capital. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG, Operations), Shahid Nizam Durrani, said Police had arrested Hafiz Muhammad Usman Muhammad Shahi alias Abbas, considered one of the masterminds of 28 sectarian killings. He said Abbas had also revealed important details of recent sectarian killings, in addition to providing information on his accomplices in target killings. "Abbas also provided information that helped us find a Kalashnikov used in sectarian killings," the DIG said.

A blast was heard in Quetta late in the night. Police said the explosion occurred near a shop close to Khojak Road, but provided no further information.

A bomb exploded in Quetta. However, no loss of life or property was reported. According to Police sources, unidentified people had placed a bomb near the passport office.

A DIG of Police and his driver were injured in a bomb blast on Spiny Road. The Saddar Station House Officer Abid Bukhari said DIG (Operations) Shahid Nizam Durrani was on his way to office in his staff car when the bomb exploded. He said the remote-controlled device was planted in a roadside drain, adding that the DIG and his driver were rushed to Civil Hospital. However, a passer-by, identified as Haji Muhammad, died on the spot. Eight persons, mainly Policemen, were injured in the blast. Police have reportedly arrested at least 50 suspects for questioning in this regard.

Rockets fired at the DIG of Police's office hit the houses of Hindu and Christian minorities near Spiny Road. The two rockets were meant to hit the office of Balochistan DIG Shahid Durrani, who had survived an earlier assassination attempt on November 17. One of the rockets landed in the Christian Colony, damaging the house of Haji Yar Mohammad on Spiny Road. The rocket damaged the boundary wall of the house and shattered the windowpanes of nearby houses. The second rocket, which was also fired at the same time, exploded in the house of Chaman Lal, a Hindu, after hitting the boundary wall of Almas Joseph's house. Locals said the rockets had damaged several houses, but there were no casualties. The attack, which is believed to have targeted the DIG office, took place a day after a remote control blast in the provincial capital. Although the DIG escaped unhurt, one civilian was killed and eight others injured. According to sources, the banned Sunni group LeJ had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The FIA detained two men at the Quetta International Airport, one of them a suspected Al Qaeda operative, as they were boarding a Jeddah-bound flight that was carrying pilgrims for Haj. FIA authorities said they detained the duo, identified as Bashir Ahmed and Burhanuddin, whose names were on the Exit Control List. Bashir was wanted by the Police in Mustang District for attempted murder, while Burhanuddin is a suspected Al Qaeda member.

Five persons, including two women, were injured in rocket attacks in different areas of Quetta. According to the Police, a woman and her two children were injured when a rocket fired from an unspecified place hit their house in Pashtoonabad. Further, a rocket exploded in a house in Essa Nagri, injuring two people. Separately, two houses were damaged by two rockets in the Faqir Mohammad and Jan Mohammad areas. In addition, windowpanes of a house were destroyed when a grenade exploded in its courtyard in the Kalat town.

Police in Quetta arrested two suspected militants allegedly involved in bomb blasts and damaging railway tracks and electricity poles. AFP reported that the Police had arrested the suspects from a house in the Eastern Bypass area after receiving a tip-off. They also recovered an unspecified quantity of explosives from the suspects' possession.

November 23

Two Policemen were shot dead in Quetta in what appeared to be a case of target killing. The Policemen, Sardar Muhammad Samalani and Syed Amir Muhammad Khilji, were on routine patrol on Qambrani Road when unidentified assailants opened fire at them, Police said.

80

December 7

A car bomb blast injured nine persons and damaged several vehicles and shops in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. Sources said that at least nine persons, including two children, were injured when the explosion occurred at the main gate of the Junior Assistant Colony in the Chaman Housing Society. Police said the explosives-laden vehicle blew up 30 minutes after unidentified men left it at the gate of the residential colony. An Assistant Commissioner was also injured in the blast.

81

December 8

The Saryab station house officer and two other Policemen were injured in a hand-grenade attack on a Police convoy on the Sabzal Road in Quetta of Balochistan. Police sources said SHO Jamil Marri was on routine patrol in the area when unidentified militants hurled a hand-grenade at his vehicle.

December 15

Unidentified militants hurled a grenade at a Police bus in Quetta of Balochistan. Police sources said the bus was slightly damaged and caused no casualties.

December 15

Unidentified militants torched two NATO oil tankers in Spiny Road of Quetta. Officials said the unidentified militants opened fire on the tankers on Spiny Road and managed to escape from the scene.

December 19

At least three personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary, including a DSP, were killed and another two injured when unidentified militants opened fire at them in Quetta of Balochistan. Sources said that DSP Habibullah Qaisarani had left his home for office when the militants, riding a motorcycle, ambushed his car on the Jail Road. Habibullah, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Aslam and Constable Shafiq Ahmed died on the spot. The driver of the van, Nazeer Ahmed, and another constable Muhammad Yasir were injured in the attack.