QUETA:
Two policemen were martyred when unidentified accused opened fire on an Eagle Squad team on Eastern Bypass.
The victims were identified as Officer Muhammad Noor and Officer Muhammad Ayub.
The attack has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement personnel in the city.
In another incident, miscreants attacked key infrastructure on the Western Ring Road near Akhtarabad, where an 18-inch gas pipeline of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) was blown up with explosive material.
The explosion was so intense that it caused a large fire, with flames shooting 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 teams arrived at the scene quickly, closed the main valve and managed to control the fire, preventing further damage.
The incident has disrupted gas supply in Quetta and several areas of Upper Balochistan including Airport Road, Nawan Killi, Jinnah Town, Hazarganji, Kuchlak, Pishin, Ziarat and surrounding towns.
Residents are facing severe difficulties, especially with the cold weather, as routine activities such as cooking and heating have been affected.
SSGC officials said repair work will begin once security clearance is granted, adding that restoration of the damaged stretch may take 12 to 24 hours.
Police and Anti-Terrorism Department (CTD) teams cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Authorities believe the pipeline, located under a bridge, was deliberately targeted.
