‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ targeting civilians, teachers and police, says Balochistan official

QUETTA: A senior Balochistan government official on Saturday accused what he called “Fitna al-Hindustan” of expanding attacks to target women, teachers and civilians in the province, after a policewoman was targeted.

Assistant Home Minister Babar Yousufzai said a female police constable, identified as Shakila, was killed in what he described as a “terror attack” in front of her children earlier in the day.

He said the killing of the female officer in front of her family amounted to “open terrorism” and reflected what he called the “cowardly mindset” of militants.

“These attacks on women and children show the mindset of terrorists,” Yousufzai said, adding that the group had no respect for women or children.

He said Balochistan police personnel continued to sacrifice their lives in the line of duty and that the constable’s “sacrifice would not go in vain.”

Yousufzai said security forces and the public were united against militancy in the province and vowed that operations against armed groups would continue.

He further said that the aim of the attackers was to spread fear and destabilise the region, and accused the group of trying to deprive Baloch youth of education by targeting teachers.

The official also said Professor Ghamkhor Hayat was killed earlier in the day in a separate incident, describing it as part of what he termed a campaign against education and public life.

Yousufzai said residents of Balochistan rejected violence and what he described as an “agenda of chaos and ignorance”, adding that efforts to restore peace would continue.