QUETTA: A noted local trader belonging to the Shia community was killed along with his son and two bodyguards in Quetta on Thursday.
“Keeping in view past incidents and preliminary investigation, it appears to be an act of sectarian killing, however, a detailed probe will establish the cause of the murder,” said Hamid Shakeel, Quetta operations deputy inspector general.
According to details, Haji Ali Akbar, his son Abdus Samad and two body guards were leaving for home after closing Akbar’s shop at Masjid Road, when unidentified armed men ambushed their vehicle.
As a result, Akbar and his son died on the spot, while the guards received bullet injuries. One of the guards succumbed to his injuries on the way, while the other died at the hospital. All four people were Persian-speaking shias of the Hazara tribe.
SP City Abdullah Jan said the assailants were waiting for the four to come out of the shop attacked them as soon as they came close to the vehicle. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack.
