Jandullah claims responsibility of killing 18 over sectarian differences in Gilgit

In what appeared to be a quite inhuman act, unidentified gunmen ambushed a bus on Tuesday, killing 18 people over sectarian differences in a usually peaceful region, Gilgit, the northern region of the country.

According to the media reports, the bus was stopped before passengers were ordered off and shot in the mountainous district. A local police official observed, “Armed men hiding on both sides of the road attacked the bus. Eighteen people have died and eight wounded”.

He confirmed that at least 18 people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a bus, which was en route from Gilgit to Rawalpindi with 39 passengers on board, on Karakoram Highway.

Chief of the local police Mohammad Ilyas observed, “Armed men hiding on both sides of the road attacked the bus. Initial reports said 18 people have died and eight wounded”. He added that the bus came under attack near the town of Harban Nullah.

The deceased and injured have been shifted to Chilas Hospital. As like previous events, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has sought an investigative report from the Inspector-General of Gilgit-Baltistan at the earliest.

While speaking to media, survivors said seven or eight gunmen stopped the bus, forcing the passengers to get off and then opened fire.

Khalid Omarzai, regional administration chief observed, “It appears to be a sectarian attack.  It is a remote area. We are getting reports that the gunmen forced people to get off the bus. They checked their papers and shot them dead”.

He further stated that it could be the outcome of the murder of two people of other section a few days ago in Gilgit. The people of the area had vowed they would take revenge, he added.

Jandullah group, the sub-branch of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Lakki Marwat) claimed responsibility for the attack, confirming it was done by their activists.

Ahmed Marwat, a local commander of the banned militant outfit, while telephoning stated that they were Shiite infidels and their mujahedeen shot them dead one by one after bringing them down from a bus.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=14096

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 28 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.