In a shocking turn of events, seven passengers aboard a bus in Balochistan’s Barkhan district were forcibly removed and executed by gunmen, in what appears to be a targeted attack against individuals from Punjab. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when armed assailants intercepted the bus on the Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan highway.
According to eyewitnesses and survivors, the attack was carried out by approximately three dozen gunmen who blocked the road and demanded to see the passengers’ identification documents. Those found with Punjab addresses were singled out and taken to a nearby hilly area where they were shot dead.
Among the victims were Mohammad Ashiq, 65, and his brother-in-law Shaukat Ali, both of whom had been visiting Barkhan to offer condolences for a family bereavement. Their nephew, Asad Abbas, shared that they chose to take the bus back to Sheikhupura, while other family members opted for a train earlier that day.
Zeeshan Mustafa, a survivor who had been traveling with his brother Adnan Mustafa, recounted the terrifying ordeal. He described how the gunmen returned his identity card, possibly due to its details being in English, but took his brother, who lacked his card, and executed him despite his protests.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, describing the attackers as enemies of peace and humanity. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the brutal assault, and security forces have launched a manhunt to capture those responsible.
This incident mirrors a similar attack last August, where 23 individuals from Punjab were killed under comparable circumstances. The recent escalation has raised concerns over the safety of inter-provincial travelers in the region.
The tragic loss has left families in mourning, with the bodies of the victims received by officials at the Punjab-Balochistan border. Security operations are ongoing as authorities work to ensure justice and prevent further violence in the area.
