Baloch on fire after gunmen kill leader

Jul 15, 2010 |

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Islamabad, July 14: Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province was once again on fire Wednesday after the assassination of nationalist leader Habib Jalib Baloch. Baloch, a former Senator and Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen as he left his home on the outskirts of Quetta, police said.

Immediately after his death, protesters blocked the roads, burnt tyres, damaged properties and all businesses were closed for a three-day strike. The BNP chief, Akhtar Mengal, condemned slaying of his party secretary Habib Jalib Baloch saying his struggle had irritated the government agencies.

Mr Mengal said that the former government killed Balochs through a military operation but in this government the political activists are becoming victims of targeted killings.

Relatives said Mr Baloch was going to drop his children to school when gunmen waiting for him outside sprayed bullets and fled on a motorbike.

The police said the identity of the killers was not immediately clear, but that a manhunt had been launched. Human rights activists have raised concerns about an increase in targeted killings in the province over the past 20 months. Shops and markets were shut down after Baloch’s killing.

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