Manan Mandokhail, Syed Ali Shah, Abdul Rehman Musakhail, Nashad Baloch, Abdullah Lehri:
QUETTA, MUSAKHAIL, MASTUNG, SIBI: Balochistan was rocked by a wave of violent incidents on Monday, resulting in the tragic loss of 38 lives. Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, confirmed the death toll during a press conference, revealing that 21 terrorists were killed by security forces, who also thwarted a major terror attack in the Lasbela district.
Already struggling with instability, Balochistan has faced one of its most challenging periods in recent memory, with multiple attacks spread across various districts.
One of the most horrific incidents occurred in the Musakhail district, where 23 passengers were forcibly removed from their vehicles and executed. The violence extended to the Kalat district, where an assault on security forces resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including five security personnel and five civilians. Senior police officer Ayub Achakzai informed quettavoice.com that the armed assailants offloaded the passengers and methodically killed them after verifying their identities.
Railway Bridge Blown Up
The series of attacks began with the destruction of the Dozan railway bridge in the mountainous Bolan Valley. This vital piece of infrastructure, which connected Balochistan to Sindh and Punjab via rail, was obliterated, further isolating the province. In Noshki, militants launched an attack near the Frontier Corps fort, injuring five civilians.
In the southern part of the province, six bodies were discovered in the Sibi district, adding to the grim tally of casualties. Mastung’s Daringarh police station was also targeted by militants, but fortunately, there were no casualties. Meanwhile, in the Pishin district, a grenade attack left two people injured, with a government office being the target. In Lasbela, three security officials were murdered in a targeted attack, although a larger assault was successfully repelled by security forces.
CM Bugti Vows To Bring Perpetrators To Book
Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the wave of violence and reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.
“Thirty-eight innocent lives were taken, and they were innocent Pakistanis,” Bugti declared. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “Highways, innocent passengers—murdered. Twenty-one terrorists were killed, and more will follow. This is the state’s war.”
Bugti delivered a stern message to those sympathizing with the militants: “Sympathizers have no answer. This is genocide and brutality. Terrorists have no ethnicity or religion. You cannot impose your ideology through force.” He urged the public to reject violence, adding, “Don’t glorify terrorism; instead, support a peaceful Balochistan.”
Drop Your Weapons, Then Talk: Bugti
The Balochistan Assembly has officially labeled these incidents as acts of terrorism. Expressing his frustration, Bugti said, “You take to the streets, kill innocent people, and then vanish. This is an intelligence-driven war; we will not spare anyone.”
He also extended a hand to those involved in the violence, encouraging them to surrender their weapons and join the peace process. “Drop your weapons and join the peace process. We refuse to be silent spectators to this terrorism. Labourers and barbers are being killed.”
As Balochistan remains on high alert, the government maintains a firm stance against the violence while offering a path to peace for those willing to lay down their arms. The resolve of Balochistan’s leadership and the resilience of its people will be critical in navigating this turbulent period.
