A district and sessions judge and his security guard were killed after unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle on the national highway in Mastung on Thursday, while an additional sessions judge and another person sustained serious injuries, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bahram Saleem said. According to the DC, District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar was travelling from Quetta to Mastung when unidentified assailants targeted his vehicle on the national highway. Judge Kakar and his security guard were killed at the scene, while Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari and another person were seriously injured.
The wounded were shifted to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment. Following the attack, security forces and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area, launched a search operation and established checkpoints at various locations to apprehend the attackers The Balochistan Bar Council described the attack as an assault on the judiciary, the legal fraternity and the rule of law. The council announced a two-day boycott of court proceedings and three days of mourning.
Lawyers will wear black armbands while appearing before courts. Meanwhile, security forces killed six terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan and arrested several others during a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung district. The arrested terrorists include facilitators as well as male and female suicide bombers, according to security sources.
Several terrorist hideouts were also completely destroyed during the operation. A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the terrorists' hideouts, security sources added. Search and clearance operations are continuing in the area, while security forces have maintained full surveillance to ensure that no terrorists escape.
Security sources said intelligence-based operations had been intensified in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung following recent terrorist activities in the region. Security forces reaffirmed that operations will continue until terrorism is eradicated and lasting peace and stability are restored in the region.
Summary from source