Quetta at target again as SP Muhammad Ilyas martyred along with his wife, son and grandson

Quetta, Pakistan: The city of Quetta is again at the target of terrorists as Superintendent of Police (SP) City Investigation Muhammad Ilyas was martyred along with his wife, son and grandson on Wednesday.

One daughter of SP Ilyas was rushed in critical condition to hospital. Their vehicle came under attack at Nawan Killi area.

While National Security Committee meeting held in Islamabad appreciated the significant improvement in law and order of Balochistan while expressing deep concern over killing of police officials in Quetta. This is second attack of terrorists over police officials in Quetta this week.

Meanwhile, dead bodies of 15 boys from Punjab were recovered at Turbat. Investigation are underway. According to initial reports 15 laborers from various parts of the Punjab province were executed in Kech district of Balochistan. 

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Hamid Shakeel was martyred along with his staff on November 9, 2017 morning in a suicide bomb blast at Airport Road. The blast took place near Chaman Housing Scheme in Quetta wherein the vehicle of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Hamid Shakeel was targeted. Hamid Shakeel was among 30 police officials martyred this year in Balochistan.

According to district police sources, Police (SP) City Investigation Muhammad Ilyas  was going home along with his family and terrorists riding a motorbike intercepted his official vehicle and sprayed bullets over passengers, killing SP Investigation and his wife at spot.

His son Abdul Wahab and grandson could not survive injuries in hospital while his daughter is fighting for survival in intensive care unit of Civil Hospital Quetta. More details are arriving. Deceased Muhammad Ilyas belonged to city of Sialkot, Punjab. He was living inside Police line of Quetta.

Correspondent from Islamabad adds:

The meeting of National Security Committee was on Wednesday and was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

According to a press statement issued by PM Office, the meeting was attended by Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Foreign Minister, Khawaja Asif,  General Zubair Mehmood Hayat, Chairman JCSC, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Army Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sohail Aman, Chief of the Air Staff, and senior civil and military officials. The statement said that the NSC condemned the recent attacks on Pakistan Army post at Bajaur Agency and at police officials in Quetta, and expressed deep concern over the now increasingly exposed activities of hostile intelligence agencies to destabilize Pakistan. The Committee reviewed the security situation in Balochistan and appreciated the significant improvement brought through the tireless work by the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.

The Committee affirmed that the thrust of Federal Government policy shall be to collaborate more deeply with the Government of Balochistan for the rapid socioeconomic development of the province. The meeting also developed a consensus on providing increased development resources to the province and adopting a cooperative implementation mechanism for development projects to ensure greater efficiency and transparency so that the benefits of increased development funding flow directly to the Baloch people at the very grassroots level.

Balochistan province that gained peace in past is drifting again towards uncertain law and order situation. A number of newspapers in the province have closed down as newspaper offices are being attacked regularly while more than 18 press clubs have been locked up and journalistic activities have been suspended. Last two months have been difficult for journalist community because terrorists are after them and they are virtually unguarded while performing their duties.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep concern over the ever-increasing danger of attacks on working journalists in Balochistan by extremists and religious bigots, and they are increasing by the day. Journalist community claims that civil and military leadership of the province are not taking problems of journalists seriously and even is not ready to meet with journalists to listen their problems.