In a tragic incident in Balochistan’s Washuk district, five labourers were fatally shot by terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan at a shop in the Mashkel area. The victims were identified as Mohammad Bilal, Mohammad Hussain, Muhammad Qadeer, Mohsin, and Bilal. Security forces quickly cordoned off the scene and initiated a search operation to apprehend the attackers.
Authorities confirmed that all five victims had traveled from outside the province. Their bodies were being transported to their hometowns after the completion of necessary legal procedures. An official investigation into the attack has been launched to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the killings, emphasizing that terrorists had once again revealed their malicious intent by targeting unarmed workers. He stated that the terrorists’ goal was not to pursue any legitimate cause but to spread terror, hatred, and destabilize Pakistan. Bugti assured that the government would take even more decisive action against those challenging state authority.
Meanwhile, Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, also denounced the attack. He confirmed that the provincial administration had taken notice and ordered a thorough investigation. Rind pledged that those responsible for the murders would be brought to justice and expressed solidarity with the grieving families.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condemnation of the killings, describing the targeting of labourers as an extremely barbaric and cowardly act. He extended his condolences to the victims’ families and stressed that perpetrators of such crimes against humanity deserved no leniency. The prime minister highlighted that Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists were deliberately targeting innocent civilians to advance their malicious objectives. Nevertheless, he affirmed that these attacks would not weaken the nation’s determination to combat terrorism.
In a significant development, PM Shehbaz reiterated the government’s and security forces’ full commitment to eradicating terrorism and safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.
This attack occurred amid ongoing security operations throughout Balochistan, during which dozens of India-backed terrorists have been neutralized. Following an assault on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat, security forces launched Operation Shaban. This operation is being conducted jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, and Balochistan Police.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban assumed power in 2021. In response, Pakistan initiated Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting terrorist strongholds across the border. Despite multiple rounds of dialogue, no agreement has been reached, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s unwillingness to act against terrorist groups.
