Lady constable martyred, husband and child injured in Turbat firing

QUETTA:

A lady police constable was martyred, while her husband and child were injured after unidentified armed men opened fire on them in Balochistan’s Turbat on Saturday, the Balochistan Home Department confirmed.

According to aide to the Home Department Babar Yousafzai, “This morning in Turbat, the brave daughter of Balochistan and police officer, Lady Constable Shakeela, was martyred in a terrorist attack.”

He said killing the lady 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 evidence 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 that her sacrifice would not go in vain.

“The people of Balochistan and security forces are united against terrorism, and terrorist elements are nearing their logical end. The morale of female 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 women personnel 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 terrorists wanted to shut the doors of education in Balochistan; however, the people of Balochistan had rejected the agenda of terrorism and ignorance.

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

According to police, the incident took place near the Absar Research Farm area of Turbat, where Shakeela was travelling 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.

Police have registered a case and launched a search operation for the attackers, while security has been tightened at the entry and exit points of the city.

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Later, in a statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the martyred constable and said the “brave daughter of Balochistan sacrificed her life for the country while performing her duty.”

He said Constable Shakeela had attained the “great status of martyrdom” and added that “the nation salutes the brave daughter who laid down her life.”

Naqvi said the sacrifice of the slain policewoman would always be remembered, describing women 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.