The coal mines of Harnai, Balochistan, have long been a source of livelihood for thousands of laborers who migrate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in search of economic stability.
However, these mines have also become a battleground where innocent workers fall victim to senseless violence. On Friday morning, a tragic explosion occurred in the Takri Saifullah Khan Shela Coal Mines region. Eleven laborers lost their lives. They were fathers, brothers, and sons. These men had spent years working in dangerous conditions to support their families. Among the deceased were Rahmat, Dolat Mand, Iqbal Hussain, Hanifullah, Rahmat Shahid, Javed, and five others. Two additional workers sustained critical injuries, victims of a conflict in which they had no role.
Despite their arduous labor, these workers earned a daily wage of only 1200 to 1800 rupees, with minimal overtime compensation. They faced constant risks such as cave-ins, gas leaks, and now, calculated acts of violence. These individuals were not combatants; they were hardworking men striving to provide for their families, yet they were targeted in a brutal and unjustifiable act.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) allegedly carried out this attack. The group, once claiming to follow an ideology, has devolved into extortion and violence. It does not advocate for the people of Balochistan. Instead, it exploits them. It uses coercion and bloodshed to fund its activities. The organization increasingly targets vulnerable laborers. It seizes assets like coal trucks and mining equipment. This disrupts the livelihoods of thousands.
The escalation of violence in Harnai follows the October 11 Duki attack. In that attack, 21 coal miners were brutally killed. Despite enhanced security at mining sites, the BLA has shifted tactics. They have started ambushing workers during their commute. This exposes the group as a criminal enterprise driven by internal power struggles.. Security expert Munawar Baloch has noted that the group’s infighting over financial resources has intensified, particularly after the recent assassination of its strategist, Commander Mushtaq Kohei, in Kabul.
“These killings are no longer about ideology,” Baloch states. “The BLA has transformed into a criminal organization, where financial gain and power struggles dictate its actions. These laborers are merely collateral damage in their internal conflicts.”
Despite the repeated tragedies, authorities have remained largely unresponsive, leaving affected families in Shangla, Swat, and Dir to mourn their loved ones without any assurance of justice.
There have been no significant measures to prevent such attacks, no strong condemnations from Human right groups, and no concrete steps to safeguard the lives of those who contribute to the country’s economic foundation. The coal industry will keep operating, more laborers will replace the fallen, and the cycle of violence will continue unless meaningful action is taken.
The memory of the innocent lives lost in Harnai must not fade into obscurity. The international community, human rights organizations, and the state must acknowledge these atrocities and take decisive action to end the exploitation and targeted killings of laborers.
The Baloch Liberation Army may attempt to disguise its actions as part of a struggle, but history will remember it as an entity responsible for the senseless murder of unarmed workers. The voices of the victims will resonate beyond the mines, urging justice for those who were silenced too soon.
