At least nine passengers were abducted and killed after BLA armed men intercepted a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Lahore, officials in Balochistan confirmed on Friday.
The attack occurred near Zhob, a northern town in Balochistan, where gunmen stopped the bus, forcibly removed selected passengers, and shot them after verifying their identities.
Zhob Assistant Commissioner Naveed Alam confirmed that the victims were taken away from the vehicle before being gunned down. Their bodies were later shifted to Rekhni Hospital in the Barkhan district.
Provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind condemned the killings, calling it a “heinous act of terrorism.” He said, “The terrorists pulled the passengers from the bus, identified them, and then mercilessly killed nine innocent Pakistanis.”
Shahid Rind labeled the attack as part of the ongoing activities of “Fitna al-Hindustan,” blaming Indian-backed elements for the violence. He added that security forces had responded quickly, but the attackers escaped under the cover of darkness. A search operation is ongoing in the surrounding areas.
Bodies to be Returned to Punjab
DG Khan Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad confirmed that five ambulances have been dispatched to Balochistan to bring the deceased passengers back to their hometowns in Punjab for burial.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killings and vowed to deal with the perpetrators with “full force.”
“We will avenge the blood of the innocent. This nation will confront the menace of terrorism with unity, resolve, and strength,” the PM said in a statement released by the PM Office.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti also denounced the attack, calling it “open terrorism” carried out by Indian-linked proxies.
“The attackers deliberately targeted innocent civilians for being Pakistani — a cowardly and unforgivable crime,” he said. “We will dismantle every terror network tied to Fitna-e-Hindustan with decisive force and unwavering resolve.”
Spokesperson Shahid Rind, speaking to private media, said that the Zhob incident was not isolated but part of a broader pattern of attacks.
“Terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan launched coordinated attacks in Mastung, Kalat, and Saradagai earlier in the day, all of which were successfully repelled by security forces,” he noted.
While overnight travel was prohibited along the N-70 route, the targeted bus had departed just before nightfall and was reportedly compliant with all updated SOPs. Despite enhanced security measures, the attackers were still able to intercept the vehicle.
Shahid Rind stated that an investigation is underway to identify security lapses and strengthen protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future. He also mentioned that a general terror threat had already been issued in parts of Balochistan, but no specific warning had been given for the Zhob area.
