At least 31 people have been killed in two separate attacks by gunmen in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, news agency AP reported. These Balochistan gunman attacks have raised concerns about the growing violence in the region. #BalochistanGunmanAttacks
In Pakistan’s Balochistan, twenty-three people were killed when gunmen forced them off a bus and checked their identities. The attackers then shot them, according to a report by Pakistani daily Dawn.
The assailants blocked the inter-provincial highway in Musakhel’s Rarasham district and offloaded passengers from several buses. Assistant Commissioner Musakhail Najeeb Kakar reported the incident.
“Vehicles travelling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot,” Kakar was quoted saying by Dawn. He added that while three of those killed were from Balochistan, the rest were from the Punjab province.
According to Deputy Commissioner Hameed Zahir, at least 10 trucks were set on fire, and their drivers were killed. The police later arrived and transported the bodies to a hospital.
In another incident, gunmen killed at least nine people, including four police officers and five passersby, in the Qalat district, news agency AP reported.
Insurgents blew up a railway track in Bolan, attacked a police station in Mastung, and burned vehicles in Gwadar. These incidents occurred in Balochistan, but no casualties have been reported.
According to Reuters, militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility of the killings in a statement emailed to journalists. They have also warned of many more attacks, including one on a major paramilitary base. Pakistani authorities are yet to confirm these, the news agency said. #BalochistanGunmanAttacks
The aftermath of these Balochistan gunman attacks is deeply troubling. Families are mourning their loved ones, while local authorities scramble to ensure security.
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