| Quaid-e-Azam Residency attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of due to theBalochistan conflict | |
 Quaid-e-Azam Residency,Ziarat, Pakistan | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 30°22′50.64″N67°43′45″E / 30.3807333°N 67.72917°E /30.3807333; 67.72917 |
| Date | June 15, 2013 (2013-06-15) 1:15 AM (PST) |
| Target | Memorials inQuaid-e-Azam Residency |
Attack type | soft |
| Weapons | Hand grenades andRockets andcrains |
| Deaths | 1Pakistani policeman |
| Injured | 1Pakistani policeman |
| Perpetrators | Balochistan Liberation Army |
On June 15, 2013, the historicalQuaid-e-Azam Residency, which housed the founder of Pakistan,Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his last two months and ten days, was attacked and completely burnt down by fighters belonging to theBalochistan Liberation Army.[1][2] The reconstruction work was completed and the reconstructed Ziarat Residency was inaugurated onIndependence Day which is on 14 Aug, 2014.[3]
Four to five terrorists riding on two motorcycles attacked the heritage site immediately after midnight on June 15, 2013. They fired three rockets from an unknown location, then stormed the building using assault rifles andhand grenades.[4] A policeman identified as Muhammad Tahir Jan and two unarmed watchmen were killed during the initial assault.[5][6] The attackers then moved inside and planted more than six bombs. They took down the Pakistani flag from the building and replaced it with the flag of BLA. The militants escaped unharmed after setting the building alight.[7][8]
After the attack fire-brigades were called in fromQuetta to extinguish the blaze, and the fire was extinguished after a four-hour struggle, but the building had completely burned down.[9][10] Six of the bombs planted inside the residency were defused by theBomb disposal squad, who reported that each bomb weighed 2 to 3 kilograms.[11]
The interior Minister of Pakistan,Chaudhry Nisar presented the preliminary investigation report of the attack in the National Assembly of Pakistan on the same day. He reported that firing and five explosions occurred on the residency premises at approximately 1:15 am.[7][8][12]
TheFrontier Corps and thelaw enforcement authorities also started investigations of the incident.[13]
According to initial reports bythe police, the attack resulted in complete destruction of all the old memorials housed in the residency. The chairs, beds, and historic photographs of thefounder of Pakistan were also badly damaged.[5]
TheChief Minister ofSindh, SyedQaim Ali Shah strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He termed the attack "a national tragedy", demanded investigations of the incident and asked for "stern action" to be taken against the perpetrators.[14]
TheChief Minister ofBalochistan,Abdul Malik Baloch strongly condemned the act and stated that the "perpetrators of the attack would be brought to book".[16] He called for a day of mourning to be observed across Balochistan on June 16, 2013.[17]
ThePrime Minister of Pakistan,Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack, and expressed sorrow and grief over the casualties. He announced that all measures will be taken to ensure the safety and security of national assets and heritage sites in future.[21]
UN Secretary GeneralBan Ki-moon condemned the deadly attacks in Ziarat and Quetta. In a statement issued by his spokesman, he stated that "no cause can justify such violence". The secretary-general also extended his condolences to the victims and their families, as well as the government of Pakistan.[22]TheChief Minister ofBalochistan,Abdul Malik Baloch assured that Jinnah's residence would be restored in its original condition. He stated that he will even call foreign experts to restore the Ziarat residency in its original form.[16]
On June 16, 2013, the Federal Interior Minister ChaudhryNisar Ali Khan flew toZiarat and announced to rebuild the Residency within three to four months as it was a national heritage.[23] He stated “We are with the terror-hit people of Balochistan at this time of grief. We will also extend our support to the provincial government”.[24]
The reconstruction work was completed within the next four months and the reconstructed Ziarat Residency was inaugurated on August 14, 2014.[3]
DG ISPR GeneralAsim Bajwa, during a press conference on September 12, 2013, said that all militants who participated in the attack had been captured by the army duringOperation Zarb-e-Azab.[25]
