World News : In a horrifying act of violence, unidentified gunmen intercepted a passenger bus near Zhob city in northern Balochistan and executed nine passengers after verifying their identities. The bus was en route from Quetta to Lahore when the attack took place on Tuesday.
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According to police and local authorities, the gunmen stopped the bus, forcibly removed the passengers, and after checking their identities, abducted and killed nine individuals. The deceased were later found and transported to Rekhni Hospital in Barkhan district, said Deputy Commissioner Naveed Alam.
The attackers escaped under the cover of darkness, and a search operation is currently underway to track them down. Authorities have labeled the incident a terrorist attack.
Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, condemned the massacre and termed it as an attack on Pakistan’s unity and humanity. He stated that the militants targeted innocent citizens based on their identity, calling it a war against the state.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti also strongly condemned the killings, calling the attack “open terrorism.” He alleged that there may be links between the attackers and India, suggesting that the victims were deliberately targeted for being Pakistani nationals. He vowed that the blood of innocent citizens would not go in vain and that the response would be firm and decisive.
Meanwhile, three other terrorist attacks were attempted in Quetta, Loralai, and Mastung, but were thwarted by Pakistani security forces. Local media reported that during the night, militants tried to attack police stations, government offices, communication towers, and banks across the region.
This tragic incident once again highlights the deepening security crisis in Pakistan and raises serious questions about the state’s capacity to protect its citizens, especially in conflict-prone areas like Balochistan.
