Gunmen in Pakistan's Balochistan targeted a passenger bus, singling out and shooting 9 individuals. All victims were from Punjab province. The attackers checked identification cards before executing the victims. No organization has claimed responsibility.
Pakistan Bus Attack: Another incident that shames humanity has occurred in Pakistan's Balochistan province. On Friday, in the Zhob area, armed gunmen stopped a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Lahore, singled out 9 passengers, and shot them after checking their identification cards. All the deceased were residents of Pakistan's Punjab province. This incident has shaken the entire nation.
Targeted Killing Based on Identification
According to Naveed Alam, the Assistant Commissioner of Zhob, the incident took place on the national highway when the gunmen began checking the identities of the passengers. They examined the identification cards of the people on the bus and took 9 of them off. Subsequently, they were taken to a nearby location and shot dead. The entire incident appears to be highly planned, in which the attackers targeted their victims for execution.
Bodies of the Deceased Sent for Postmortem
According to officials, all the passengers killed were from different districts of Punjab. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to the hospital in Zhob, where a postmortem will be conducted. Police and security agencies have reached the scene and started an investigation. In addition, other passengers present on the bus are also being questioned.
No Organization Has Claimed Responsibility Yet
No terrorist or rebel organization has yet claimed responsibility for this heinous attack. However, such attacks have occurred in Balochistan before. Suspicion is being cast on Baloch rebel groups active here, who have been involved in violent activities against the state and security forces for a long time.
Four Terrorist Attacks in a Single Day
A few hours before this incident, there were reports of three terrorist attacks in other areas of Balochistan. Security forces foiled these attacks in Quetta, Loralai, and Mastung. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind claimed that all the attacks were brought under control in time and a major catastrophe was averted.
Balochistan: An Old Hotbed of Violence
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan. This region has long been a center of ethnic rebellion, terrorist activities, and separatist movements. Baloch rebel organizations, demanding control over the natural resources of the region, have targeted the government, security forces, and civilians from time to time.
Threat to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is underway in Balochistan province and is worth approximately 60 billion US dollars, has repeatedly been targeted by terrorist attacks. Rebel organizations claim that this project is exploiting their land and resources without benefiting local people. Because of this, foreign engineers and workers have also been attacked here.
