Balochistan, Pakistan – Unidentified gunmen killed seven passengers traveling in a bus from Quetta to Lahore, targeting them based on their ethnicity, police reported on Wednesday. The attack occurred in the restive Barkhan district along the National Highway.
According to authorities, militants stopped the bus in the Rarkan area, forcibly removed the passengers after checking their identity cards, and led them to a nearby hill where they were executed.
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“Armed men stopped the passenger bus on the national highway in the dark and shot dead seven passengers after identifying them,” Rizwan Ullah, a police official at the Barkhan police headquarters, told EFE.
He further stated that the victims, all hailing from Punjab province, were shot in the chest and head. Security forces arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area, while the bodies were transferred to the district hospital.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. “Those who harm the lives and property of innocent citizens will have to pay a heavy price,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country.
Rising Ethnic Attacks in Balochistan
Balochistan has witnessed an escalation of ethnic attacks in recent years, with Baloch insurgents frequently targeting laborers and civilians from Punjab. The insurgents accuse the federal government of exploiting the province’s natural resources while marginalizing its local population.
Last year, militants carried out multiple attacks targeting non-Baloch civilians. In May, seven barbers from Punjab were shot dead near Gwadar, while in August, 23 travelers were offloaded from buses and executed in the Musakhail district.
Security forces in Balochistan have long battled sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence. The province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been a hotbed for insurgency and militancy, with attacks sharply increasing in recent years.
A Pattern of Escalating Violence
The latest attack follows a disturbing pattern of growing militancy in the region. Last year, separatist militants killed at least 39 people in coordinated strikes, predominantly targeting ethnic Punjabis. In November, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a bombing at Quetta’s main railway station, which left 26 dead, including 14 soldiers.
In addition to ethnic attacks, insurgents have frequently targeted infrastructure and foreign investment projects, particularly those linked to China, accusing external actors of exploiting Balochistan’s mineral wealth while sidelining local communities.
With tensions in Balochistan rising, security forces remain on high alert as the government vows to intensify operations against insurgents. However, experts warn that without addressing the underlying grievances of Baloch nationalists, such violence is likely to persist.
SOURCE : EFE. | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
