QUETTA:
Two policemen were killed when unidentified accused opened fire on an Eagle Squad team on the Eastern Bypass.
The victims were identified as officers Muhammad Noor and Muhammad Ayub.
The attack has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement in the city.
In another incident, miscreants targeted key infrastructure on the Western Bypass near Akhtarabad where an 18-inch pipeline of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) was blown up using explosive materials.
The explosion was so intense that it sparked a large fire, with flames rising high into the sky and causing panic among nearby residents.
Initial findings from the bomb disposal unit indicate that the explosion was a deliberate act of sabotage, with explosives placed under the pipeline. SSGC emergency crews quickly arrived on site, closed the main valve and successfully brought the fire under control, preventing further damage.
The incident disrupted gas supply in Quetta and several areas of upper Balochistan, including Airport Road, Nawan Killi, Jinnah Town, Hazarganji, Kuchlak, Pishin, Ziarat and surrounding localities.
Residents are facing serious difficulties, especially in cold weather, as common activities such as cooking and heating have been affected.
SSGC officials said repair work would begin once security clearance is granted, adding that restoration of the damaged section could take between 12 and 24 hours.
Teams from the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) cordoned off the area and started an investigation. Authorities believe the pipeline, located under a bridge, was deliberately targeted.
