Former Pakistan boxer Abrar shot dead in Quetta

Karachi: Pakistan's boxing community Thursday mourned the shocking murder of one of the country's most celebrated pugilists - Abrar Hussain Shah - in Quetta, the capital of the troubled Balochistan province.

Abrar, who won a boxing gold at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, was sprayed with bullets as he left his office at the Ayub Stadium in Quetta. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead by the doctors there. According to doctors, he died as a result of a bullet wound to the head.

Abrar, 51, was serving as director of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) in Quetta. He was one of the most accomplished Pakistani boxers, having represented the country in three Olympic Games in 1984 (Los Angeles), 1988 (Seoul) and 1992 (Barcelona). He was honoured with Sitara-e-Imtiaz - one of Pakistan's highest civilian awards -- in 1990. He was also awarded the President Gold Medal the following year.

According to details, unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on Hussain when he was leaving the Ayub Stadium.

"The assailants shot him in the head while he was leaving his office today," said Hamid Shakil, a Quetta police officer.

A senior Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) official said that Hussain's killing was a huge loss for national boxing.

"It is a huge loss to Pakistan sports because Abrar was a legendary boxer who was contributing greatly by training young boxers," said PBF secretary Akram Khan.

Shakil said police were investigating the motive behind the killing, and added that no arrests have been made so far.

Target killings have become a common practice in Quetta and other cities and towns of the Balochistan province where separatists and militants routinely attack security forces and government officials.

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