5 killed, 6 injured as Terrorists fire on Bus in Dassu
Pakistan Times Northern Areas Bureau Report

SKARDU: Almost five passengers were killed and six injured as a passenger bus, coming from Islamabad to Sakardu, was attacked with fire-arms in Dassu of Indus-Kohistan at mid-night.

Three passengers, a women from Gamba-Skardu, Subedar Sher Ali of Artillery and the conductor of the bus died on the spot and seven passengers were injured.

A passenger coaster of Mashabrum Tours with 27 passengers left Rawalpindi bus stand in the afternoon of July 3 for Skardu. When this coaster reached near Dassu at 1.05 am on July 4, the driver saw the road, Karakorum Highway, blocked with stones. Suddenly three persons appeared in front of the coaster and opened fire with sub-machine-guns. However, the driver managed to rush the coaster through the block, but the armed men continued firing some minutes.

The Casualties

Two passengers, Subedar Sher Ali, a resident of village Komara of Skardu, the conductor of the coach expired on the spot. A lady Rafia wife of Mehdi Khan, was seriously injured.

The injured lady and others were sent to Abbottbaad Hospital for treatment, but the lady expired in Besham and her dead body was sent back to Skardu.

Backdrop

For the last some days rumours were ripe in the area that during Wana operation and round up of terrorists in Karachi some terrorists have shifted to the tribal areas of Indus-Kohistan, where Sufi Muhammad has a strong influence and have taken refuge there.

Further, as the 50th anniversary of the conquest of K-2 is being celebrated in Skardu in the second week of this month and hundreds of foreign tourists and adventurers are coming to Skardu to join the celebrations.

Such terrorism, especially on the travellers will affect the tourism seriously, which ultimately will result in economic losses for the country.

The DCO said that a case has been registered against unidentified assailants. Investigations are underway but so far no arrest has been made. Security has been tightened on the Karakoram Highway, the DCO said.

The names of the injured who were identified are: Nisar Ali son of Ghulam Mehdi of Skardu, Muhammad Rafiq son of Ashiq of Lahore, Syed Toufa Shah son of Syed Abdullah Shah of Skardu, Sajid Muhammad son of Qasim Tariq, Buniaad Shah son of Usman Shah of Muzaffarabad.●