Judge and guard killed in armed attack near Mastung, officials say
A district and sessions judge and his guard were killed and another judge injured when gunmen attacked their vehicles on the way from Quetta to Mastung, officials said.
A district and sessions judge and his guard were killed on Thursday after armed men attacked vehicles carrying judges on the way to Mastung from Quetta, according to officials in Balochistan. Dawn reported that District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his guard were killed in the assault, while Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari was among those injured. The attack took place at Wali Khan crossing, Balochistan Home Department aide Babar Yousafzai told the newspaper. Officials said the injured were taken to a hospital in Mastung. Beyond that, many details remained unclear in the immediate aftermath of the attack, including the identities of the attackers, the number of vehicles involved, and whether the judges were part of a larger convoy. The killing has once again raised concern over security for judicial officers and other public officials moving through areas where armed attacks have been reported before. Mastung district, like parts of Balochistan, has faced repeated security challenges over the years, with roads and travel routes sometimes becoming vulnerable to targeted violence. At this stage, the key facts confirmed by officials are limited but serious: two people, including a senior judge and his guard, were killed; one judge was injured; and the assault happened while the group was traveling from Quetta toward Mastung. Authorities have not yet publicly set out a motive, and it is not clear whether the attack was aimed specifically at the judges or at the vehicle they were in. The incident is likely to prompt questions about route security, protection protocols for the judiciary, and the measures in place for officials traveling between cities in Balochistan. For now, the focus remains on the condition of the injured and on the investigation into who carried out the attack. Novexa News will continue to monitor for verified updates as officials release more information.
Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017787/sessions-judge-his-guard-killed-after-vehicle-comes-under-attack-en-route-to-mastung
