Gunmen killed 23 bus passengers in Pakistan

Unidentified gunmen in a targeted attack shot and killed at least 23 people from Pakistan’s Punjab province on Monday in the restive Balochistan province after offloading them from buses and checking their identities.

The incident happened in Balochistan’s Musakhel district.  

Senior Superintendent of Police Ayub Khoso said that militants of an outlawed group put up blocks on the highway in the Rarashim area of the Musakhel district and offloaded 23 passengers. He, however, did not identify the outfit.

“The passengers were told to get down from buses and shot dead after being identified from their national ID cards,” Khoso said.

“Most of those killed belonged to southern Punjab and some are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suggesting they were killed because of their ethnic background,” he added.

Khoso said the armed men had also set some 12 vehicles on fire on the highway before fleeing into the nearby mountainous terrain.

Police reached the spot and shifted the bodies to the hospital.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the incident of terrorism.  

He expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of those who died in the cowardly act of terrorists.

The terrorists and their facilitators will not be able to escape an exemplary end, he said, adding that the Balochistan government will pursue the terrorists.

The Musakhel attack comes months nearly four months after a similar attack targeting people from Punjab. In April, nine passengers were offloaded from a bus near Noshki and shot dead after gunmen checked their ID cards.

In October last year, unidentified gunmen fatally shot six labourers hailing from Punjab in Turbat in Balochistan’s Kech district. According to the police, the killings were targeted. All victims belonged to different areas of southern Punjab, suggesting they had been chosen for their ethnic background.

A similar incident occurred in 2015 when gunmen killed 20 construction workers and injured three others in a pre-dawn attack on a labourers’ camp near Turbat. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Wrexham gets a rude welcome to the Championship as Southampton twice strikes late for 2-1 win

Southampton (England), Aug 9: Wrexham was denied a Hollywood-style...

Mohun Bagan outclass Diamond Harbour 5-1, enter Durand Cup quarterfinals

Kolkata, Aug 9: Dominant Mohun Bagan Super Giant overcame...

Event promotes preservation of tribal traditions

Shillong, Aug 9: The need for the younger generation...

Army Public School bags RKM cultural competition

Shillong, Aug 9: Army Public School, Shillong took home...

B’desh elections in first week of February 2025: EC

Dhaka, Aug 9: Bangladesh's poll body chief on Saturday...

4 Bangladeshis held for attacking man in Meghalaya

Shillong, Aug 9: Meghalaya Police on Saturday arrested four...

Resign from Lok Sabha if have no faith in EC: BJP to Rahul

New Delhi, Aug 9: The BJP on Saturday said...

NSA Doval meets Russia’s First Dy PM, discusses military-technical ties

Moscow, Aug 9: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories