Five people were killed after armed terrorists belonging to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) opened fire on shops in Mashkel, a border town in Balochistan’s Washuk district, while the body of a man abducted two months ago was recovered in Kalat, officials said.
According to Deputy Commissioner Washuk Majid Sarparah, the attack took place in Mashkel, near the Pakistan-Iran border, where heavily armed terrorists indiscriminately opened fire on shops where the victims were working. All five victims died at the scene.
Officials said the deceased were residents of Punjab who had been working in Mashkel to earn their livelihood.
Officials identified the five victims as Muhammad Hassan, son of Inayatullah, a barber from Pasrur, Sialkot; Muhammad Qadeer, son of Muhammad Arshad, also a barber from Pasrur, Sialkot; Mohsin, son of Shaukat Ali, a resident of Narowal, Punjab; Bilal, son of Abdul Ghani, a mason from Khanpur in Rahim Yar Khan district; and another Bilal, a labourer from Khanpur, Rahim Yar Khan.
Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area after the attack, collected evidence and launched an investigation to trace those responsible.
In a separate incident, police recovered the body of Shabbir Ahmed, a resident of Kalat, from the Jatak Abad area of the district.
According to police, Shabbir Ahmed had been abducted by BLA armed men two months ago while returning from Lehar. His body was recovered after legal formalities were completed and handed over to his family.
Balochistan Government Orders Investigation
Balochistan Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Information, Shahid Rind, strongly condemned the terrorist attack, describing the killing of innocent civilians as a tragic and deplorable act.
He said the Government of Balochistan had taken immediate notice of the incident and ordered a transparent and impartial investigation.
Rind said those involved in the murder of innocent civilians would not escape the law, adding that law enforcement agencies had been directed to immediately arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
He added that the provincial government stands with the bereaved families and will provide every possible support.
“The Government of Balochistan will not allow any conspiracy aimed at undermining peace in the province to succeed,” Rind said, reaffirming the state’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of citizens and continuing operations against terrorist groups responsible for spreading fear and violence.
