Prominent trader and hotel owner Muhammad Hashim Noorzai was fatally shot by unidentified armed assailants early Saturday morning on Baleli Road near Kuchlak Bypass in Quetta. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Kuchlak Police Station, close to Othmania Hotel.
Details of the Attack
According to police, Noorzai, a resident of Wazirabad Kuchlak, was driving his personal Vigo vehicle from his home toward the city when three to four men on a motorcycle opened fire on his car. The trader sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was critically injured at the scene. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.
Eyewitnesses reported that police arrived nearly an hour later, by which time Noorzai had succumbed to his injuries. A friend transported his body to Civil Hospital, where doctors confirmed he had received three bullets: one to the head and two to the arms. The head wound proved fatal.
Investigation Underway
A police spokesman confirmed the incident and stated that forensic evidence has been collected from the scene. Investigations are proceeding from multiple angles, including analysis of CCTV footage and witness statements, to identify the attackers. The motive behind the killing remains unclear.
Family members stated that the deceased had no known personal enmity with anyone. Muhammad Hashim Noorzai was not only a hotel owner but also actively involved in the Afghan transit trade and various other business activities. He was widely respected in business circles as an influential yet simple and socially active personality who provided employment to many local youths.
Community Reaction
The incident has caused deep concern and shock in Quetta's trading community. Business leaders described the killing as a major setback not only for the victim's family but for the entire business fraternity. They raised serious questions about the security of traders and demanded immediate action to apprehend the culprits.
