Four members of a Catholic family were killed in a militant attack in southern Pakistan a day after the minority community celebrated Easter.
Ucanews.com reported the deadly gun attack took place April 2 in Quetta, the capital of restive Balochistan province. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. “Four Christian relatives were going to a nearby market on an auto-rickshaw when two unknown gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on them,” police officer Moazzam Jah Ansari told ucanews.com. “It was a targeted attack and an act of terrorism.” Police said the casings of 9 mm bullets were recovered from the crime scene.
Pervaiz Masih, Tariq Masih, Imran Masih and Firdous Bibi died in the attack, and a 10-year-old girl was injured. A neighbor, Aftab, told that Pervaiz, a rickshaw driver, was taking his relatives to an ice cream shop when they were targeted just outside their home. “Pervaiz Masih had been living in Quetta for 10 years. His relatives came from Lahore and Dubai for the first time to celebrate Easter with him on March 29,” Aftab said.
