Two injured as Qatari prince’s convoy comes under attack in Balochistan

MUSAKHEL - The convoy of a Qatari prince came under attack in Balochistan’s Musakhel district on Sunday, leaving two injured.

According to reports, unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on the convoy as they were heading back to Quetta, as a result of which two other security officials received bullet wounds, Levies official said.

Yasir Khan, deputy commissioner of the Musakhel district, said as many as 25 armed assailants were chasing the convoy.

"Two Levies personnel were also among the attackers, and have been suspended," said Yasir Khan.

He declined to identify the visiting prince.

Although the targeted attack was precise but fortunately, the Qatari prince remained unharmed in the attack.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, but the assailants managed to flee the crime scene.

The senior official further said that a case has been registered against 20 suspects.

“Some Levies personnel are also among those accused, and an investigation is underway,” he added.

Last month, a convoy of houbara bustard hunters from United Arab Emirates came under attack in Guchak area of Panjgur.

Prince Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan was leading the convoy when it was attacked. However, he remained unhurt in the incident whereas two vehicles of the convoy were damaged.

The convoy was attacked by five motorcyclists who managed to surround the convoy but Frontier Corps personnel and other security men forced the assailants to flee the scene.

The area was later cordoned off and the convoy was taken to its camp. Panjgur Assistant Commissioner Abdullah Khosa confirmed the incident.

According to Panjgur Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rehman Prince Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s convoy was on its way to hunt in Guchak area when it came under attack.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Scores of Emirati, Qatari and Saudi prince move to Pakistan in a bid to hunt internationally protected migratory bird, houbara bustard, in Balochistan and Punjab during the hunting season.

Residents of colder Central Asian regions, houbara bustards migrate every year to spend winters in a relatively warmer environment like Pakistan.