Behram Baloch, News Desk:
GWADAR, QUETTA: At least seven barbershop workers were killed in an armed attack in Gwadar in the wee hours of Thursday. Police sources said armed accused opened fire in the Surbandar area of Gwadar and killed seven laborers working in a barbershop on the spot.
Police said the unidentified assailants broke into a residential quarter near the Fish Harbour Jetty in the Surbandar area of Gwadar. The accused killed all seven barbershop workers one by one after identification.
All seven barbershop workers belonged to the Punjab province. The assailants escaped unhurt from the spot. Police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.
According to police sources, the deceased hailed from the Khanewal district of Punjab and had come to the coastal city for employment. They were working at a barbershop.
Police identified the deceased as Sajid, Asad, Ansar, Shaan, Mukarrab, Adnan, and Hasib, while the injured was identified as Arsalan.
Police termed the attack an act of targeted killing and said that this was not the first time that laborers were targeted in the area. “We are investigating the incident,” a senior police officer said. He requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the incident and said that the terrorists behind the attack would be brought to justice. “The terrorists would not be spared,” Mr. Bugti said in a condemnation statement after the incident.
Sarfaraz Bugti said terrorists were targeting unarmed laborers to serve the nefarious designs of their masters. Balochistan Home Minister, Mir Ziaullah Langove also condemned the terrorist attack and directed the police to submit a report in this regard.
“Ensure the arrest of culprits behind the attack,” Mr. Langove directed the police and other law enforcement agencies. He said the administration would ensure the arrest of the culprits.
The Balochistan Assembly also offered fateha for the departed souls and most of the members from the treasury and opposition benches strongly condemned the brutal killing of laborers. They urged the government to step up efforts to apprehend the culprits behind the brutal killings.
Security was tightened in and around Gwadar in the aftermath of the brutal attack.
