BARKHAN: At least seven passengers were killed in a tragic incident in the Barkhan area of Balochistan on Wednesday, according to Barkhan Assistant Commissioner Khadim Hussain.
The attack occurred on the National Highway in the Rarkan area, where unidentified armed assailants stopped a passenger bus and resorted to aerial firing. The gunmen then boarded the bus, checked the identity cards of the passengers, and forcibly took seven individuals to a nearby mountain. Shortly after, gunshots were heard.
When local law enforcement agencies, including the Levies force, arrived at the scene, they discovered the bodies of the seven abducted passengers. The deceased, who belonged to different cities of Punjab, have been shifted to a nearby Rakni hospital, according to Levies officials.
A representative from the bus service office reported that at least 45 people were on board the ill-fated bus, which was traveling from Quetta to Faisalabad.
A survivor, Zeeshan Mustafa, a resident of Burewala traveling to Multan, stated that the terrorists took his brother away after checking his identity card. He described the gunmen as a group of 10 to 12, all carrying Kalashnikovs.
Authorities have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the perpetrators. Following the incident, two-way vehicular traffic on the National Highway, which connects Punjab to Balochistan, has been suspended.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the brutal killings, describing them as a “heinous and reprehensible act.”
“Terrorists are targeting innocent and unarmed civilians,” CM Bugti said, reacting to the tragedy. “This cowardly attack by enemies of peace is intolerable, and they will be met with a strong response.”
He further emphasized that those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice.
Following the attack, security forces, including the FC and Levies, swiftly arrived at the scene and launched a search operation to track down the perpetrators. A spokesperson for the Balochistan government said that security forces are actively pursuing the terrorists.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Police have launched investigations into the incident.
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The Barkhan tragedy comes almost a week after a terrorist attack in Harnai, where 11 laborers were killed in a blast, according to Harnai Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank.
The data revealed that at least 74 militant attacks were recorded nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Another 117 individuals sustained injuries, including 53 security forces personnel, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained the worst-affected province, followed by Balochistan. In KP’s settled districts, militants carried out 27 attacks, resulting in 19 fatalities, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants.
The tribal districts of KP (erstwhile FATA) witnessed 19 attacks, leading to 46 deaths, including 13 security personnel, eight civilians, and 25 militants.
Authorities continue efforts to curb terrorism and ensure security across the affected regions.
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