Staff Reporter Quetta
A young student was killed in Quetta on Wednesday night after officials of the Eagle Squad of Balochistan Police allegedly opened fire on his car on Sariab Road.
The death of Faizan Jattak, aged around 22, sparked a protest in the city and on social media.
According to the first information report (FIR) registered on the complaint of Jattak’s cousin who was travelling with him in the car, the two men were going home through Sariab Road around 10pm when four officials of the Eagle Squad signalled them to stop at Sada Bahar Terminal.
‘As soon as we travelled a bit ahead, they started firing on us because of which my cousin, Faizan, was seriously injured. He died on the spot, while I was injured,’ the FIR quoted Jattak’s cousin as saying.
The FIR was lodged against the four police officials under Sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done by several people in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the FIR, an ‘initial examination’ of Jattak’s body showed a gunshot wound on his neck and back.
Later that night, angry protesters blocked Sariab Road and chanted slogans against police for what they called ‘brutality’.
Long queues of vehicles could be seen on the road which links the southern and western parts of Balochistan with the provincial capital, Quetta.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Thursday took notice of allegedly killing of a youth in firing of police at Sariab Road Wednesday night and ordered officials concerned to submit report after the inquiry of the incident.
Chief Minister Balochistan instructed that immediate action would be taken against those personnel involved in the killing of man.
He also condemned the incident saying no one would be allowed to take law into their own hands and illegality could not be tolerated under any circumstances.He said all measures would be taken to provide affected family to justice.
The Chief Minister also extended his sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased youth.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ziaullah Langau also condemned the incident of Sariab and justice would be provided to the family of victim.