By At least 23 people were killed in Balochistan’s Musakhail district early Monday morning when armed men offloaded passengers from trucks and buses and shot them after checking their identities, according to an official.
Musakhail Assistant Commissioner Najeeb Kakar reported that the attackers blocked the inter-provincial highway in the Rarasham area and forcibly removed passengers from several buses. The victims are said to be primarily from Punjab, with three identified as being from Balochistan.
The attackers also set fire to 10 vehicles at the scene. Police and Levies officials arrived to transport the bodies to a hospital.
AC Kakar indicated that the attackers specifically targeted individuals from Punjab, inspecting vehicles and shooting those identified as being from the province. The assailants’ identity remains unknown.
This incident marks the second attack of its kind this year. In April, nine passengers were similarly offloaded and killed near Balochistan’s Noshki city. Previous attacks include the October 2023 shooting of six laborers from Punjab in Turbat, and a 2019 attack near Ormara where 14 people, including military personnel, were killed. Another notable attack in 2015 resulted in the deaths of 20 construction workers from Sindh and Punjab.
Condemnations have poured in from national leaders. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing grief and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. They urged local authorities to assist the families of the victims and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also condemned the violence, pledging that the terrorists and their supporters will face severe repercussions.
