Tragic Shooting: Six Punjab Labourers Murdered in Gwadar
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Synopsis
Six labourers from Punjab were tragically killed in Gwadar after being forcibly removed from a bus by gunmen. This incident has drawn condemnation from government officials amid rising violence targeting Punjabis in Balochistan.
Key Takeaways
- Six Punjab labourers murdered in Gwadar.
- Gunmen blocked highway and checked IDs.
- Government officials condemned the attack.
- Rising violence against Punjabis in Balochistan.
- Previous incidents of targeted killings noted.
Islamabad, March 27 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred early Thursday in the Kalmat region of Balochistan's Gwadar district, where six labourers from Punjab lost their lives due to gunfire. This occurred after unidentified assailants obstructed the main highway and forcibly removed them from a Karachi-bound passenger bus following an ID check.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their strong condemnation of this heinous act against innocent passengers.
“The terrorists are the enemies of the country's development and prosperity in Balochistan. They cannot tolerate progress in the region,” remarked Zardari.
“We will not permit the anti-state agendas of these miscreants to prevail,” added PM Shehbaz.
Reports indicate that the labourers were targeted after their identification was verified. Police reported that five victims hailed from Sadiqabad and one from Multan.
According to a police representative, “Five of the victims died at the scene, while one succumbed to injuries later while receiving treatment.”
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hafeez Baloch reported that three trucks carrying urea from Gwadar port were also set ablaze in the Tajaban area.
Baloch disclosed that additional roadblocks were discovered in various locations across Balochistan, suggesting a coordinated plan for further attacks.
“Roads were obstructed in Turbat, Panjgur, and Pasni. We also observed roadblocks in Bolan, Kolpur, and Mastung. One of the Levies' vehicles was burnt in Mastung as well,” he stated.
This incident marks the latest in a series of targeted assaults on citizens, workers, and labourers from Punjab in Balochistan, amidst ongoing tensions following the Jaffar Express train hijacking by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists earlier this month, which resulted in the deaths of 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel.
Targeted attacks against Punjab citizens have been escalating, with BLA militants assaulting passenger buses, coal mines, and shops after identifying Punjabi workers.
Recently, four labourers from Punjab were killed by unknown gunmen in Balochistan's Kalat district, and four policemen were also shot in Noshki. On March 16, three security personnel and two civilians were killed during a suicide bombing targeting a security convoy in Noshki.
Last month, seven passengers bound for Punjab were removed from a bus and shot dead in Barkhan district. In August 2024, BLA militants murdered at least 23 Punjab travellers after they were offloaded from a vehicle and executed in Musakhail district.
