PAKISTAN FOR YOU

Pak Christian lawmaker gunned down by bodyguard
Islamabad: A Pakistani Christian lawmaker was shot and killed by his own bodyguard in Balochistan province’s capital city Quetta, according to PTI.
Handry Masih was elected as the member of Balochistan’s provincial assembly from the province’s ruling National Party. The lawmaker was shot by the guard near his home in Nawa Kalay area of the city, where he met the people of his constituency on the weekends, Dunya TV reported. He was taken to hospital where he died.

One of his nephews was also injured in the attack but he is stable and out of danger. The motive of the attack was not known as yet. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the killing and ordered the provincial government to arrest the killer. Pakistan’s Christian minority is constantly persecuted and attacked by hard-line Islamist elements.  

25 Pilgrims killed in Balochistan 

Karachi: At least 25 Shia pilgrims, including 10 women, were killed when suicide bombers attacked their buses in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province as they were returning from Iran, officials said on Monday, reports PTI. 

The attack took place yesterday when 10 buses carrying the Shia pilgrims stopped at a hotel in Taftan near the Iranian border. 

Six of the attackers were killed by security forces after heavy exchange of fire, Home Minister Mir sarfaraz Bugti, told reporters.

“As soon as the pilgrims came out of the buses to go to the hotel first a group of militants first opened indiscriminate fire on them and also threw hand grenades before rushing into the hotel and taking refuge there,” Bugti said. 

The Commissioner of Queta, Qambar Dashti, told PTI that 25 people were killed in the attack and condition of some of the injured was critical.