11 Workers Lose Lives in Pakistan Bomb Attack
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Synopsis
On February 14, a bomb blast in the Shahrag area of Harnai, Balochistan, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 11 labourers and critical injuries to seven others. The incident highlights ongoing violence against non-local workers in the region.
Key Takeaways
- 11 labourers killed in a bomb explosion in Balochistan.
- 7 others injured critically from the attack.
- Explosion occurred while a vehicle transporting coal miners was passing.
- Investigation launched by the provincial government.
- Historical violence against non-local workers in the region.
Quetta, February 14 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred when a bomb detonated in the Shahrag area of Harnai, located in Balochistan, Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 labourers and critically injuring seven others on Friday.
Details reveal that the explosive device was triggered as a vehicle transporting coal miners passed by.
According to Hazrat Wali Kakar, the Deputy Commissioner of Harnai, the bomb is believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden on the road.
Security forces swiftly secured the area, facilitating the transfer of the deceased and injured to a local hospital.
Medical personnel confirmed that out of the 11 fatalities, at least nine were dead upon arrival, with two later succumbing to their injuries.
The condition of the injured individuals remains critical.
The Shahrag region has experienced numerous bomb attacks in the past, often aimed at undermining the local mining operations, particularly as many victims were coal miners.
Another suspected motive for these attacks is the non-local status of many of the workers, as the majority of the deceased miners hail from Swat and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
No group has yet claimed responsibility for this heinous act. However, the separatist organization Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has a history of executing similar assaults.
The provincial government of Balochistan condemned this attack and announced that an immediate investigation is underway.
Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti stated, "Terrorists who target innocent citizens do not deserve any forgiveness. Strong measures will continue against those undermining the peace in Balochistan."
He added, "The intentions of the enemies of peace will not be allowed to succeed under any circumstances. The Balochistan government is committed to protecting the lives and property of its citizens."
Furthermore, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the attack and pledged to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
"The beasts who target innocent civilians should not be shown any mercy," he asserted.
Historically, labourers from Punjab working in different regions of Balochistan have been targeted once their origins have been identified by militants.
Balochistan has witnessed numerous targeted assaults from militant factions, keeping governmental and law enforcement agencies perpetually alert.
Pakistan maintains that groups operating within Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receive support from the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, which Islamabad claims backs anti-Pakistan activities within the country.
