In a tragic incident in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, 23 people from Punjab were brutally killed after armed men offloaded them from buses and trucks, checked their identities, and then shot them. The attack took place in the Musakhel district, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region. The incident, reported by Dawn and confirmed by local officials, underscores the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan, where separatist groups have been active for years.
Identity-Based Killings in Musakhel
The terror unfolded when armed men blocked the inter-provincial highway in the Rarasham district of Musakhel. According to Assistant Commissioner Musakhail Najeeb Kakar, the assailants forcefully removed passengers from their vehicles and checked their identities before executing them. Most of the victims were identified as belonging to Punjab. In addition to the killings, the attackers also set fire to 10 vehicles, further amplifying the devastation.
This brutal attack came just hours after the outlawed Baluch Liberation Army, a separatist group, warned people to avoid highways. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility for this particular incident. The killings are part of a disturbing pattern in Balochistan, where ethnic targeting has become increasingly common.
Government Response and Condemnation
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from Pakistan’s leadership. President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the incident as “barbaric” and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and assured full support to the families of the victims. “The terrorists behind this attack will face severe consequences,” Sharif declared, emphasizing the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti also condemned the attack, expressing his condolences to the affected families. He called the act of terrorism despicable and extended his heartfelt sympathy to those grieving their lost loved ones.
Ongoing Violence in Balochistan
This recent attack is not an isolated incident. In April, gunmen targeted nine passengers from Punjab in a similar manner near Noshki. They were also offloaded from a bus, identified, and shot dead. In another incident in October of the previous year, six laborers from Punjab were killed in Turbat, Balochistan’s Kech district, in what appeared to be another ethnically targeted attack.
These attacks are part of a long-standing conflict in Balochistan, where separatist groups have waged a low-level insurgency against the central government in Islamabad. The separatists have often targeted workers and residents from Punjab, aiming to force them out of the province. The ongoing violence has created a climate of fear and instability in the region, with little resolution in sight.
As the investigation into this latest atrocity unfolds, the people of Pakistan and the international community continue to watch with concern, hoping for an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued Balochistan for years.
(With inputs from agencies)
