Bomb attack destroys Quaid's residency in Ziarat
15 June, 2013
QUETTA: Militants attacked the Quaid-e-Azam residency in Ziarat with hand grenades in the wee hours of Saturday, destroying the historical monument where the founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah spent his last days.
A police man outside the Quaid's residency was also killed in the attack.
A police official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media, told our sources that four militants on two motorcycles entered the residency and hurled hand held bombs.
"All old memorials inside the residency have been destroyed," he said.
He said memorial chairs, beds, and historic photographs of the founder were burnt to the ground in the resulting fire.
Another police official, requesting anonymity, said the wood structure of the residence had been burnt down, however, the exterior concrete structure was still intact.
Bomb disposal squad also claimed to have defused six more bombs planted inside the residency.
Police said the militants escaped unhurt from the spot.
Frontier Corps and police reached the residency and started investigation into the incident.
The founding father of the country, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had spent last days of his life in Ziarat at the historic wooden structure.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has revealed that the attackers of the Quaid-e-Azam residency in Zairat removed the Pakistan flag and replaced it with the flag of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The interior minister presented the initial investigation report of the attack in the National Assembly on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday strongly condemned the rockets and hand grenades attack, targeting the Quaid-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat.
The attack resulted into partial destruction of this historical monument where the Founder of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent the last days of his life.
Expressing his sorrow and grief over the death of a policeman in the attack, the Prime Minister prayed peace for his soul and grant of courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.
The Prime Minister said that all measures would be taken to ensure the safety and security of such national assets and heritage.
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