A group of unidentified men in Balochistan killed ten passengers belonging to Punjab after forcing them off two buses in Zhob district Thursday night, as militants carried out a series of attacks in the province.
These passengers were taken off two buses that originated in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and were headed to the Punjab province.
Assistant Commissioner Zhob, Naveed Alam, confirmed that the bus passengers were shot dead.
A variety of Balochistan-based groups have been targeting the workers from the Punjab province and federal security personnel.
A spokesperson for the Balochistan provincial government, Shahid Rind, said the attacks were perpetrated by “terrorists belonging to the Fitna-al-Hindustan.”
Pakistan has designated all terrorist organizations in Balochistan as “Fitna-al-Hindustan” to describe their links to India.
Thursday night’s attack appeared to be part of a wave of coordinated attacks.
Shahid Rind said in a statement that militants carried out attacks in Kalat, Mastung, and Sardhaka area of Zhob, where communication is often limited.
At all three locations, security forces launched a rescue operation and responded immediately and forcefully. The security forces remained on full alert to protect people and their properties, Shahid Rind said.
The province is strategically important to Pakistan and its neighbor, China. The two countries have built a massive multi-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor that connects China to the Gulf region through Gwadar Deepsea Port.
According to latest reports banned militant group Balochistan Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the attack. Militant outfits claim they carry out attacks to avenge perceived injustices done to the resource-rich but largely impoverished province.
Pakistan has often blamed India for backing the BLA and other militant groups involved in the insurgency. New Delhi rejects the charge.
This story is being updated.
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