Seven labourers gunned down in Balochistan's Panjgur

The labourers, hailing from different areas of Punjab, were residing in a house in the district's Khuda-i-Abadan area, police say

By Web Desk
September 29, 2024

QUETTA: Unidentified militants late on Saturday night barged into a house and opened indiscriminate fire on the occupants, leaving behind seven labourers dead.

Police detailed that the labourers, hailing from different areas of Punjab, were residing in a house in the district's Khuda-i-Abadan area, where the incident occurred and left seven people dead and one wounded.

Advertisement

The Panjgur deputy commissioner also confirmed the gruesome incident and said that the attackers barged into the house and opened fire at the residents.

Police officials told the media that the deceased and injured persons were shifted to Panjgur District Hospital.

Meanwhile, a search operation has been launched to track down the perpetrators of the brutal attack.

Last month, at least 23 passengers travelling to their destinations were killed after being offloaded from buses and trucks in the Rarasham area of Balochistan's Musakhail.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayub Achakzai provided details of the incident, stating that armed men had blocked the inter-provincial highway to carry out the massacre.

Speaking on Geo News programme "Geo Pakistan," Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind revealed that militants launched a coordinated assault on multiple (two to three) fronts but were met with fierce resistance from security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

However, he added that the terrorists used the cover of darkness to carry out the Musakhail attack, during which they dragged the passengers down from the buses and shot them after identity check.

Underscoring the provincial government's resolve to tackle the law and order situation, Rind said that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had called a meeting where "important decisions" would be made.

β€œTo find a way out of this situation, a holistic approach is required from the political government and security forces, with support from all schools of thought,” he said.

Pakistan has witnessed a spike in terrorism-related incidents since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Most terror activities are reported in provinces bordering the neighbouring country β€” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report, during the second quarter of the current year, the country witnessed 380 violence-linked fatalities and 220 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws.

The report stated that these casualties resulted from as many as 240 incidents involving terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations.

Owing to the security situation, the federal cabinet in June this year approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism campaign following the Central Apex Committee's recommendations under the National Action Plan to root out terrorism.

Advertisement