ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Seven passengers were brutally killed in Barkhan, Balochistan, after being forcibly removed from a bus traveling from Quetta to Lahore. The assailants established a checkpoint near the Rarkan area, where they halted the bus, examined passengers’ identity cards, and executed seven individuals from Punjab.
The victims have been identified as Muhammad Ishaq, Ashiq Hussain, Asim Ali, Adnan Mustafa, and Muhammad Ajmal. Their bodies were transported to Rakni Hospital, where an emergency has been declared.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a cowardly act by enemies of peace. He emphasized that targeting innocent and unarmed civilians is unacceptable and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Security forces, including FC and Levies, have reached the scene and are actively pursuing the terrorists.
This incident mirrors a previous attack on August 26, 2024, when militants in the Musakhail district of Balochistan killed 23 passengers after blocking a highway and identifying individuals from Punjab. Such attacks have raised concerns about the safety of travelers in the region and highlight the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend those responsible.
