QUETTA: In yet another tragic event in Balochistan, unidentified militants have fatally shot 11 individuals, including nine travelers from Punjab, in Nushki district.
According to Nushki Deputy Commissioner Habibullah Musakhel, the incident occurred on Friday night when over a dozen militants obstructed the Quetta-Nushki-Taftan N-40 National Highway near Sultan Chadhai, approximately one kilometer from Nushki.
The militants, after blocking the highway, began inspecting vehicles and opened fire on a vehicle that did not halt, resulting in the vehicle overturning and causing fatalities and injuries. Among the victims was a relative of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Balochistan MPA Ghulam Dastgir Badini.
Additionally, a motorcyclist was wounded by gunfire.
Reports from Nushki police indicate that the militants also intercepted a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Taftan, where they abducted nine individuals hailing from Punjab based on their identification documents. The abducted individuals were later found shot dead under a nearby bridge.
The deceased individuals were residents of Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, and Gujranwala, identified as laborers traveling from Quetta to Taftan.
Although the militants targeted an ordnance depot of the Nushki Frontier Corps (FC) militia with rockets, no casualties or damages were reported.
Authorities suspect Baloch separatist groups to be behind the attack and have launched a search operation in collaboration with the FC and other security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.
Balochistan CM Mir Sarfraz Bugti has strongly condemned the merciless killing of innocent passengers in Nushki, vowing not to spare the terrorists responsible for the heinous crime. He emphasized the government’s determination to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of civilians in Balochistan.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
