Militants destroy historic house used by Pakistani founder

Militants destroy historic house used by Pakistani founder

PanARMENIAN.Net - Militants destroyed a historic house associated with the country's founder early Saturday, June 15, shooting dead a guard, in a southwestern hotbed of ethnic nationalist insurgency, a police officer said, according to The Associated Press.

Attackers on motorcycles planted bombs at the 19th century residence in the mountain resort town of Ziarat in Baluchistan province, which then started a fire, said senior police officer Asghar Ali Yousufzai.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah lived in the house before his death in 1948, a year after he led Pakistan to independence. He's also referred to as Quaid-e-Azam, which means "great leader."

Three bombs exploded, triggering the blaze that destroyed the building, Yousufzai said. The attackers also shot dead a police guard outside the residency, which had been turned into a museum about Jinnah.

Police found six unexploded explosive devices hours later after firefighters extinguished the fire, Yousufzai said.

The attack took place in Baluchistan province, where Baluch nationalist groups demand greater rights and a share from gas and mineral revenues. The province has also been home to sectarian militant groups and Taliban militants.

The wooden building was constructed in the late 19th century. Pakistan's founder spent his last two months or so there, and the building was serving as a museum with Jinnah's belonging and other historical artifacts on display.

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