2 FC men, 4 others dead in gas field attack in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Balochistan Bureau Report

QUETTA: Some unidentified miscreants blew up gas pipeline at Sui Gas Field here on Sunday killing six persons including two personnel of Frontier Constabulary while eleven others suffered serious injuries.

It has been learnt that a group of dozen terrorists attacked Sui gas field with mortar, rocket launchers and light machine guns.

The attack continued for more than six hours. As a result two soldiers of 67th Wing Scout of Frontier Constabulary, Gul Zaman and Paril Khan died on the spot.

Other who died in the attack included two children Ajmal and Akmal, a woman Hakimzadi and an unidentified man.

The Pipeline

The 36 inch gas pipeline supplying gas to Punjab and Sindh was destroyed and gas supply to Multan, Faisalabad, Muzaffarabad and other major cities of both provinces was suspended and fire could be seen miles away from the incident scene as breaching gas caught fire after the attack.

Some misfires from terrorists also hit Sui airport and caused damage to the runway.

Two rockets also destroyed Sui telephone exchange disrupting communication link between Sui and Dera Bugti. The miscreants fled away soon after FC personnel returned fire.

The injured were rushed to Rahimyar Khan, Quetta and Sui Hospitals and the repairing of gas pipeline was initiated.

The Casualties

The civilian casualties occurred between late Saturday night and early Sunday as angry tribesmen continued trading heavy weapons and rocket fire with authorities, local administrator Muhammad Akbar said.

A soldier was also killed late Friday when several rockets hit the facility at Sui, 320 kilometers southeast of Quetta.

The 5,215-kilometre Sui pipeline network is a major supplier of domestic gas and has often been attacked by local tribesmen demanding royalties from the company for the gas coming through their area and for jobs.

Nawab Akbar Bugti

Separately, Veteran politician Nawab Akbar Bugti Sunday said Bugti tribes were safeguarding gas installations, adding if protective shield erected by Bugti tribes is withdrawn, the installations will exist no more.

“Some people are favourites of the rulers. They are out to destroy gas installations in Baloch areas. They should however know it that these installations are safe and secure in our areas due to us. Had the traditions not been in place, the curls of smoke billowing from the inferno would have risen to the sky. Since several years our people are protecting them. These can stay no longer if we remove this protective shield”, he made these remarks while talking to local journalists in Dera Bugti on Sunday.

He alleged that government was creating problems for Bugti tribes. If the prevailing situation persists nothing could be said how long our men would protect them, he underlined.

Of the Lady Doctor

Meanwhile, another story says that the situation almost returned to normal after the gun battle ensued last Friday between law enforcing agencies and the unidentified persons who were protesting against the alleged gang rape of lady doctor an employee of the PPL at Sui.

The heavy exchange of fire resulted in the death of a woman, two children and injuries to thirteen people. The firing by protesters is reported to have damaged 12-inch diameter gas pipeline while destroyed WAPDA transformer. The Sui residential area plunged into darkness and efforts are in progress to reinstall a new transformer.

Security beefed up

Sophisticated weapons were used by the both sides. The security in the area has been beefed up and the situation is returning normal.

The lady doctor has been taken to Karachi. The doctor who is in Karachi is not accessible to the press.

The elders of the Bugti tribe, while addressing a press conference Saturday, strongly condemned the incident and alleged that one officer and three members of security guards belonging to some law enforcing agencies were responsible for the incident.

They pointed out that sufficient time has passed since the incident but no action has been taken against the culprits nor any FIR registered. They urged urgent action against responsible persons.

Black Bandages

Members of the Balochistan Medical Association, the students and teachers of Bolan Medical College Quetta wore black bandages on their arms lodging protest against the alleged rape of fellow lady doctor.

Meanwhile the high-ups at Islamabad have contacted Nawab Muhammad Akbar Bugti by telephone and exchanged views on the situation with positive understandings to calm down the sentiments of the protesters for normalizing the situation.

The purification plant at Sui is safe and functional and damaged pipeline is being repaired to restore the supply of gas in certain areas of Sindh province.●