Quetta (Web Desk): Seven passengers died when unidentified gunmen ambushed a bus on the National Highway near the Rarkan area of Balochistan’s Barkhan district.
According to Barkhan Assistant Commissioner Khadim Hussain, the gunmen initially fired shots into the air before boarding the bus. They checked the identity cards of passengers and forcibly took seven individuals to a nearby mountain. Shortly afterward, gunshots were heard from that location.
Upon the arrival of local authorities, including the Levies force, the bodies of the kidnapped passengers were found.
These victims were later transferred to a hospital in Rakni. The deceased were from various cities in Punjab.
The ill-fated bus was travelling from Quetta to Faisalabad and had around 45 passengers on board when the attack occurred.
The area was quickly cordoned off, and a search operation was launched to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, traffic on the National Highway, a major route connecting Punjab and Balochistan, was suspended in both directions.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the killings, calling the act “barbaric” and vowing that the perpetrators would be held accountable.
He stated that the attackers, whom he labeled terrorists, were targeting innocent civilians, and that such violence would not be tolerated.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to identify and arrest the assailants, but no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
A spokesperson of Balochistan government stated that an investigation into the incident is underway.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of seven bus passengers in the Barkhan city of Balochistan.
In their separate statements, the president and the prime minister expressed their heartfelt condolences for the victims and their families, while denouncing the act of violence.
"The killing of innocent people is a coward and heinous act. The terrorists are the enemies of peace and humanity. They want to mar the peace in Balochistan," President Zardari said, reassuring the public that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable for their actions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that the swift prosecution of those behind the killings.
"The sacrifices of innocent citizens will not go in vain. The government and security forces are actively working to eliminate terrorism from the country completely," he remarked, emphasizing the commitment to bringing justice and strengthening national security.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the terrorist incident in Barkhan.
He expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic killing of seven passengers in the incident.
The minister also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved.
He stated that we share the grief of the families of the martyrs, emphasizing that those who target innocent civilians do not deserve any leniency.
The interior minister said that stressed that anti-state elements are hatching sinister conspiracies to create instability, but any such attempt will be foiled with the support of the nation.
