Four killed, two hurt in Pakistan firing

At least four people, including a policeman, were killed and two others injured in two separate incidents where armed assailants opened fire in Pakistan's Quetta city on Monday.

In the first attack, three people, including a policeman, were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire at people standing near a passport office at Joint Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of the country's Balochistan province.

Police said the attack appeared to be an outcome of sectarian violence as the killed and injured people belonged to the minority Shia community of the Hazara ethnic group, Xinhua reported.

Police said the assailants used 9mm pistols in the attack and were riding motorbikes. Those injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.

In a separate attack in Jinnah Town of Quetta, a manager of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

The 45-year-old victim was working for women's empowerment and poverty alleviation through his NGO in the city.

Police said that both the attacks were a continuation of the recent spree of targetted killings in the province that claimed over 20 lives, including those of eight policemen, last month.