Three lives were lost as a passenger bus came under an ambush attack near Kalat, Balochistan, on Wednesday. Among the victims were two well-known Karachi-based qawwals, Ahmed Hussain Sabri and his son Ahmed Raza Sabri. They were en route to perform at a wedding in Quetta. Thirteen others sustained injuries in the attack.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalat Shahzad Akbar, the armed assailants ambushed the bus on the Quetta-Karachi highway in the Nemargh area. Eyewitness accounts detail how the attackers, positioned on both sides of the road, intercepted the bus and indiscriminately opened fire using automatic weapons. The victims included musicians from Karachi, traveling to fulfill a performance engagement in Quetta.
The injured, identified by authorities, included Haider, Imran, Manzar, Abbas, Muhammad Saqib, Faisal, Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Rizwan, Musawir Abbas, Muhammad Waris, Faizan, Dilshad (all from Karachi), along with driver Najeeb Ahmed and Bilal Ahmed. Many sustained gunshot wounds, primarily to the head and chest, with critically injured victims transferred to hospitals in Quetta for advanced treatment.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the casualties and stated that security forces, district administration, and rescue teams swiftly responded to the incident. He added that a search operation had been initiated to apprehend the attackers, though the exact number of assailants remains unverified.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack in a statement on X, blaming Indian-backed terrorist organizations for targeting innocent civilians. He labeled the incident an assault on Pakistan’s unity and vowed that these groups would be eradicated.
The attack came mere days after a separate deadly bus assault in Zhob. Additionally, an unrelated operation by security forces in Awaran on Wednesday evening resulted in the elimination of three terrorists linked to the India-sponsored group “Fitna al Hindustan.” Tragically, the operation also claimed the life of Major Syed Rub Nawaz Tariq, a valiant officer leading his troops in the line of duty.
The military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the security operation was based on intelligence about terrorist activity in the area. During the operation, three terrorists were killed, and a sanitization effort is underway to address further threats. The ISPR reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism, emphasizing that the sacrifices of the nation’s soldiers only strengthen this resolve.
The loss of innocent lives and the continuous battle against extremist violence mark sobering reminders of the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan. Leaders and citizens across the country stand united in condemning these barbaric acts and extending their sympathy to the grieving families, with the promise to uphold peace and justice for all.
