23 Killed in Armed Attack on Highway in Balochistan’s Musakhail District

Quetta, The Gulf Observer: In a tragic incident, 23 people were killed by armed men after being forced off their vehicles at a roadblock on a highway in Balochistan’s Musakhail district, local police reported on Monday.

The attackers targeted trucks and buses on an inter-provincial highway near Rarah Sham, according to Musakhail Police Chief Ayub Achakzai. The victims, primarily from Punjab, were shot dead after being pulled from their vehicles.

Before fleeing the scene, the assailants set more than 10 vehicles on fire, Achakzai confirmed. A heavy police contingent, along with levies officials, responded to the scene and transported the bodies to a nearby hospital. Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Bugti emphasized that the terrorists had targeted innocent people and vowed that justice would be served. “Neither the attackers nor their facilitators will escape justice,” he assured, adding that the government would relentlessly pursue those responsible for the atrocity.

The incident has heightened concerns over security in the region, with authorities pledging to take all necessary measures to prevent such attacks in the future.