BARKHAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism after seven passengers traveling to Punjab were forcibly taken off a bus and executed by gunmen in Balochistan’s Barkhan district on Tuesday night.
Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the breakdown of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022.
According to Barkhan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Waqar Khurshid Alam, the armed attackers stopped the passenger bus, checked identity cards, and selectively removed seven individuals before shooting them dead.
Expressing deep sorrow over the killings, PM Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the act, calling it a crime against innocent and defenseless people.
“Those who harm innocent civilians will pay a heavy price,” the premier vowed in a statement carried by Radio Pakistan. He reassured the nation that the government remains resolute in its mission to eliminate terrorism.
PM Shehbaz also directed authorities to ensure swift justice for the victims, emphasizing that the sacrifices of innocent civilians will not be in vain.
The seven victims, all from Punjab, were traveling to Lahore when their bus was stopped near Rakhani on the Barkhan-Dera Ghazi Khan Highway.
Attackers burst the vehicle’s tires and boarded the bus, demanding to see passengers’ identity cards.
After identifying the Punjab-based travelers, the gunmen lined them up and shot them dead on the spot before fleeing.
Security forces, including Frontier Corps and levies personnel, arrived at the scene and launched a search operation.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Safaraz Bugti condemned the attack, calling it an act of cowardice.
“The brutal killing of innocent passengers is intolerable. We will ensure a strong and concrete response to terrorism,” CM Bugti declared.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that a manhunt for the perpetrators was underway, with security forces sweeping the region.
The Barkhan attack is part of a worrying trend of targeted killings in Balochistan, where militants have repeatedly attacked people hailing from Punjab:
April 2024 – Nine people were forcibly removed from a bus and executed near Noshki; two more were shot in Kech.
May 2023 – Seven barbers from Punjab were killed near Gwadar.
August 2023 – 23 travelers were taken off vehicles and executed in Musakhail district in one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist group, has previously claimed responsibility for such attacks. However, authorities have not confirmed if they were behind the latest Barkhan killings.
The surge in terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces has raised concerns over Pakistan’s internal security. Experts believe militant groups are taking advantage of political instability and weak governance to expand their activities.
While security operations continue, many believe that stronger intelligence efforts, stricter border controls, and regional cooperation are essential to curbing the escalating violence.
