Balochistan Killing: A senior police official confirmed on Saturday that a group of unidentified gunmen stopped a passenger bus in southwest Pakistan that was travelling from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, to Taftan, a town bordering Iran. After examining the ID cards of those on board, the gunmen killed nine passengers from Punjab province.
Incident Details Unfold Near Nushki
The event took place on Friday night close to the Balochistani province’s hilly Nushki area, which has long been the focus of an insurgency by separatists battling for their independence.
Grievances of Baloch Nationalists
Baloch nationalists have long complained of political marginalisation and economic exploitation, accusing the Pakistani government and Punjab province of monopolising earnings from Balochistan’s abundant natural resources, even if no group has taken credit for the attack.
In the past, Pakistani authorities have refuted such accusations, pointing out that they have started a number of development projects in the province to enhance the quality of life for Balochistani citizens.
Victims Off-Boarded and Executed at Point-Blank Range
“They off-boarded nine passengers after checking their ID card near Sultan Charahi, and took them away to the nearby mountains before shooting them from point-blank range,” Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Allah Bukhsh said. “Police and law enforcement agencies pursued the terrorists who fired RPG [rocket-propelled grenades] on security forces and escaped. But hunt for these terrorists is underway.”
History of Attacks by Baloch Separatists
Workers from Punjab who were employed in the province have previously been the target of Baloch separatists. In October of last year, two distinct attacks took place in the Turbat district of Balochistan, killing at least ten of them.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a significant armed separatist group, has increased its attacks in the area throughout the last two months in response to Pakistan‘s general elections on February 8. During this time, the gang organised attacks on the nation’s major strategic installations in the regions of Gwadar and Kech.
Terrorists Target Vehicle of Provincial Assembly Member’s Brother
“Earlier on Friday, the terrorists also attacked a vehicle driven by the brother of an elected member of the provincial assembly from Nushki, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, and busted his vehicle’s tire,” the police officer added. “The vehicle fell down into a ditch killing one man and injuring four others.”
Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti of Balochistan denounced the passenger killings and urged law enforcement to apprehend those responsible for the event. “We will not forgive these terrorists who are enemies of Pakistan and seek to sabotage peace in Balochistan,” he said in an official statement released by his office.
