QUETTA: In a grim tragedy, at least 23 passengers were killed after being offloaded from passenger buses and trucks in the Rarasham area of Balochistan’s Musakhel, police told on Monday.
Providing details of the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayub Achakzai said armed men blocked the inter-provincial highway and offloaded passengers from the vehicles.
Police and Levies reached the site of the incident and bodies were being shifted to the hospital, he added.
Balochistan government’s spokesperson Shahid Rind said that the militants had attacked on two to three fonts where they faced retaliation and resistance from the security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
However, he added, that the terrorists exploited the dark to carry out the Musakhel attack where they offloaded the passengers from the buses and shot them after identification.
Underscoring the provincial government’s resolve to address the law and order issue, Rind said that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had summoned a meeting wherein “important decisions” would be made.
“To find a way out of this situation, a wholesome approach is required by any political government or security forces and support is needed from all schools of thought,” he said.
The Musakhel incident comes as Balochistan remains embroiled in security-related challenges.
President, PM vow retribution
Condemning the heinous incident, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives and termed the perpetrators as “enemies of the nation”.
The president also said the terrorists responsible for the brutal killings must be brought to justice.
Expressing anger and sorrow over the Musakhel killings, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the local administration to cooperate with the bereaved families and provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.
The premier has also ordered LEAs to investigate the brutal killings.
“The terrorists responsible for the Musakhel incident will be punished. The war against terrorists will continue until the complete elimination of terrorism from the country,” PM Shehbaz said.
