Lady constable martyred, husband and child injured in Turbat firing

QUETTA:

A female police constable was martyred while her husband and child were injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on them in Balochistan’s Turbat on Saturday, Balochistan’s Interior Ministry confirmed.

According to Interior Ministry aide Babar Yousafzai, “This morning in Turbat, Balochistan’s brave daughter and police officer, Constable Shakeela, was martyred in a terrorist attack.”

He said killing the constable in front of her children was an act of open terrorism and extreme brutality, adding that terrorists had fired 31 bullets at an innocent family.

“Attacks on women and children are proof of the terrorists’ cowardly mindset, and ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ shows no respect for women or innocent children,” he said.

Yousafzai said the brave policewoman sacrificed her life for the country and her sacrifice would not be in vain.

“The people of Balochistan and the security forces are united against terrorism and terrorist elements are approaching their logical end. The morale of women personnel remains high and the fight against terrorism will continue,” he added.

Yousafzai said that “Fitna al-Hindustan” wanted to deprive Baloch youth of education and that targeting female staff and teachers was open terrorism.

“Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat was also martyred this morning while there are concerns that Vice Chancellor of Gwadar University Dr. Razaq Sabir and Dr. Manzoor have also been abducted by ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’,” he added.

He further said that terrorists wanted to close the doors of education in Balochistan; however, the people of Balochistan had rejected the agenda of terrorism and ignorance.

“The aim of terrorists is to spread fear, ignorance and unrest in Balochistan, while anti-education elements seek to darken the future of Balochistan. The people of Balochistan, teachers and security forces are united against terrorism,” he said.

According to police, the incident took place near Absar Research Farm area in Turbat, where Shakeela was traveling on a motorcycle with her husband, Sunil Jan, and their child to the market, when unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire on them.

As a result of the firing, Shakeela died on the spot while her husband and child sustained serious injuries.

The police have registered a case and launched a search operation for the attackers, while security has been tightened at the city’s entry and exit points.

Read: Quetta violence claims 21 lives in one month

Later, in a statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the martyred constable, saying “Balochistan’s brave daughter sacrificed her life for the country while doing her duty.”

He said Constable Shakeela had achieved the “great status of martyrdom” and added that “the nation pays tribute to the brave daughter who gave her life.”

Naqvi said the slain policewoman’s sacrifice would always be remembered, describing female officers like her as “the pride of the nation.” He also prayed for the speedy recovery of Shakeela’s husband and son who were injured in the attack.