Four people were shot dead today in Balochistan's capital Quetta, a day after security forces killed 13 militants in Pakistan's troubled southwestern province.
Two assailants riding on a motorcycle opened fire at a shop killing three people in what appeared to be an ethnically motivated attack as the three were from Punjab province, city police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema said.
In another targeted killing, a Levies forces constable was shot dead at a check post in Pishin district.
Ethnic killings in the province have mainly been carried out by Baloch separatist groups who have also targeted security personnel.
Last evening in the Mashkey area of Awaran district, security forces claimed to have killed 13 militants of the banned Baloch Liberation Front in an exchange of fire. Those killed included Commander Safar Khan, brother of Allah Nazar who heads the BLF and his nephew.
Khan Wasey, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps confirmed that the force launched a search operation in Awaran after militants killed seven people and kidnapped 17 women and 30 children in Mahi area.
After an armed operation in which 13 militants were killed and several injured and a soldier also died, the women and children were freed, he said.
