Gunmen kill 23 in Pakistan after forcing victims out of vehicles

PTC News Desk: On Monday, at least 23 people were killed when gunmen in southwest Pakistan forced them out of their vehicles and shot them. The attack occurred in the district of Musakhail in Balochistan province, as reported by PTI.

According to AFP, militants halted several buses, trucks, and vans, targeting individuals based on their ethnicity. The assailants specifically targeted vehicles traveling from Punjab to Balochistan and checked the ethnicity of passengers before opening fire. Five additional individuals were injured in the attack.

Najibullah Kakar, a senior official in Musakhail, confirmed the details to AFP: “At least 22 people were killed and five others were injured when militants intercepted several vehicles on a highway connecting Punjab with Balochistan. The attackers identified individuals from Punjab and shot them.”

Assistant Commissioner Najeeb Kakar reported that armed militants blocked the inter-provincial highway in the Rarasham district of Musakhail, offloading passengers and setting ten vehicles on fire. Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported the deceased to a local hospital for identification.

Hameed Zehri, another senior official, corroborated the death toll and suggested that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a prominent separatist group, was behind the assault. The BLA is known for its militant activities aimed at achieving independence for Balochistan.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the violence and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He assured that the Balochistan government would intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible and ensure they face justice.

The Associated Press reported that the BLA had previously warned people to avoid traveling on highways, but no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack was made. The BLA’s actions are part of a broader campaign to drive out workers and others from Punjab as part of their separatist agenda.