Seven Passengers Killed in Armed Attack on Bus in Balochistan’s Barkhan District

Barkhan: At least seven passengers were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Balochistan’s Barkhan district late Tuesday night, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday morning.

According to Assistant Commissioner (AC) Khadim Hussain, the attack occurred on the National Highway in the Rarkan area. Armed assailants stopped a passenger bus, fired warning shots into the air, and proceeded to check passengers’ identity cards. They then forcibly abducted seven individuals, taking them to a nearby mountain. Shortly after, gunfire was heard.

Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement agencies, including the Levies force, discovered the bodies of the abducted passengers. The deceased, who were residents of various cities in Punjab, were transported to a hospital in Rakni for further procedures.

The ill-fated bus, operated by a private service, was en route from Quetta to Faisalabad and carried approximately 45 passengers. One of the survivors, Zeeshan Mustafa, a resident of Burewala, recounted that the assailants, armed with Kalashnikovs and numbering between ten and twelve, abducted his brother after checking his identity card.

Following the incident, authorities suspended two-way traffic on the National Highway connecting Punjab and Balochistan. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the attackers.

Balochistan CM Vows Justice

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the killings, calling them a “heinous and reprehensible act.”

“Terrorists are targeting innocent and unarmed civilians,” Bugti stated, vowing that those responsible would face justice. “This cowardly assault by the enemies of peace is intolerable, and they will be met with a strong response.”

In response to the attack, security forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies, swiftly mobilized at the scene and initiated a comprehensive search operation to track down the perpetrators.