Yousaf Marri:
BARKHAN: Unidentified gunmen brutally killed seven passengers after forcibly removing them from a bus in Barkhan district late Tuesday night.
According to officials, around 40 armed men intercepted multiple vehicles near Rakhani on the Barkhan-Dera Ghazi Khan Highway. After checking passengers identity cards, they forcibly took seven individuals from a coach and shot them dead.
Barkhan Deputy Commissioner Waqar Khurshid Alam confirmed that all the victims were from Punjab and were traveling to Lahore when they were targeted. Security forces have launched an investigation, and efforts are underway to trace the attackers.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act of terrorism.
He vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice, stating, œTargeting innocent passengers is unacceptable, and we will not allow such barbaric acts to continue.
He assured that security measures would be enhanced to prevent future incidents, saying, the government is committed to ensuring the safety of travelers on our highways.
Government officials also expressed their condolences to the grieving families, emphasizing that every effort would be made to improve security and prevent such targeted killings.
This brutal attack comes just months after a similar incident in the Rarasham area of Musakhail district, where 20 passengers were killed. Authorities are now under pressure to strengthen security on highways and curb rising violence in the region.
